New-school boys put on their caps and gowns.

Over It - Step Outside Yourself
Posted by Tim Karan on 05-Dec-06 @ 05:11 PM

[4/5] Over It have spent the better part of six years trying to shake the reputation that they are merely followers of the late-90s Fat Wreck Chords school of songwriting. 2004's Silverstrand showcased remarkable growth, but revealed a band whose songwriting was in limbo between edgy pop punk and vibrant power pop. Now signed to the major-leagues via Virgin Records, Over It have chosen the perfect time to settle into a more polished and mature approach that begs listeners to step outside their preconceived notions of the group. The arc of Step Outside Yourself suggests that the album was written in the exact order it's presented, opening with anthemic rockers "Think Against The Grain," and a freshly rerecorded version of Silverstrand's "Siren On The 101," while climaxing with the bizarre They Might Be Giants-influenced "Mister Serious," and concluding with the mellow and sugary "Like Satellites," which is destined to be heard during the end credits to Amanda Bynes' next romantic comedy. Step Outside Yourself is Over It's most capable and unique effort to date. We expect hordes of listeners to scour the internet in search of the acoustic demos. (VIRGIN) Phillip Rydell

ROCKS LIKE: Green Day's American Idiot • Hoobastank's The Reason • Unwritten Law's Unwritten Law