From their 2002 self-titled debut to their 2012 report Children within the Road, the All-American Rejects grew to become synonymous with pop-punk within the early 2000s. They managed to encapsulate being a chronically sarcastic, usually angsty teen completely — soundtracking each emo child’s past love in songs like “Soiled Little Secret” and finally their first heartbreak in songs like “Offers You Hell.”
Though they’ve a plethora of economic hits from their tenure as a band (such because the aforementioned hits, in addition to “Transfer Alongside,” “Swing, Swing” and “It Ends Tonight”), they’ve fairly a number of different songs which might be simply nearly as good however tragically didn’t obtain the identical quantity of affection — or airplay. Because the All-American Rejects gear as much as go on their first headlining tour in a decade, we’re right here to make a number of strategies for his or her setlist. Listed below are 10 criminally underrated the All-American Rejects songs, in no explicit order.
Learn extra: Each All-American Rejects album ranked: From worst to finest
“One Extra Unhappy Track” – The All-American Rejects (2002)
Lead singer Tyson Ritter was simply 18-years-old when he wrote “One Extra Unhappy Track,” drawing inspiration from a tough breakup. He touches on the internal turmoil felt when you need to let go of somebody you continue to love, singing, “My coronary heart is torn for all to see/Alone with you, alone with me.” Probably the most fascinating a part of the tune is that it doesn’t sound like a tragic tune in any respect, regardless of its identify. The lyrics are melancholy, however they’re disguised by Ritter’s shiny vocals and an upbeat guitar.
“Your Star” – The All-American Rejects (2002)
“Your Star” is likely one of the least bitter songs a few dishonest girlfriend that has ever been written, together with the aforementioned “One Extra Unhappy Track.” Ritter inserts a glimpse of his accomplice’s perspective within the lyrics, acknowledging that each events are feeling that post-breakup sting. That sensitiveness is carried all through the remainder of the group’s self-titled album, highlighted by the maturity in Ritter’s vocals. Plus, there’s a reasonably good guitar solo about midway by the monitor, and who doesn’t love that?
“Dance Inside” – Transfer Alongside (2005)
Transfer Alongside is filled with iconic songs, and “Dance Inside” is one among them — even when it didn’t obtain as a lot consideration as “Soiled Little Secret” or “It Ends Tonight.” Whereas love songs should not revolutionary for the All-American Rejects discography by any means, what makes “Dance Inside” particular is that they weren’t lamenting over one thing misplaced. “It’s about passionate love, on a deeper stage than I used to write down about earlier than,” Ritter advised MTV in 2003.
“Can’t Take It” – Transfer Alongside (2005)
The All-American Rejects shut Transfer Alongside with the orchestral “Can’t Take It,” taking a leap from the angsty sound that they had grow to be identified for. The strings that perforate Ritter’s roaring within the tune would make the proper soundtrack to James Bond evident at somebody throughout a poker desk. Ritter additionally provides a dabble of falsetto in “Can’t Take It,” which units the tune excessive — very like the skinny slice of a lemon peel in Bond’s Vesper martini.
“Actual World” – When the World Comes Down (2008)
“Actual World” comes off of the All-American Rejects’ most introspective album, When the World Comes Down. After focusing closely on teenage heartbreak for years, the band dove into extra existential waters. “Actual World” is a monitor about rising up within the digital age the place “you’re fed from the TV display screen.” Very similar to the remainder of the album, that’s not the entire story: a determined sense of hope for the longer term is sprinkled all through the tune.
“Rattling Woman” – When the World Comes Down (2008)
Now it’s time to neglect all the things we simply mentioned concerning the All-American Rejects switching up their subject material on When the World Comes Down. Sure, “Rattling Woman” is one other breakup tune a few dishonest girlfriend. However the place “One Extra Unhappy Track” and “Your Star” are pretty cordial responses to a cut up, Ritter is a little more bitter on “Rattling Woman.” Gone are the times of seeing the opposite individual’s facet, which does make the tune extra cathartic to sing alongside to.
“Sometime’s Gone” – Children within the Road (2012)
To be truthful, “Sometime’s Gone” was fairly well-liked when it was launched to advertise Children within the Road in 2012. Nonetheless, it didn’t grow to be an immediate different rock basic — although it actually ought to have. “Sometime’s Gone” is peak AAR. The lyrics are inventive (“I fall like a useless man out of the airplane,” for instance), the outrage in Ritter’s voice is palpable, and the instrumentation is dynamic. It’s all the things you need in an angsty breakup anthem.
“Beekeeper’s Daughter” – Children within the Road (2012)
Very similar to “Sometime’s Gone,” this tune was additionally acquired properly when it first got here out because the lead single for a similar album. However once more, it solely bought so far as turning into a high 40 hit on the U.S. Billboard Pop charts, and I consider it deserved a lot extra. “Beekeeper’s Daughter” represented a shift to a extra lighthearted pop sound within the All-American Rejects’ discography. Plus, if you happen to look carefully you’ll see each YouTuber Trisha Paytas and the legendary “Mr. Leisure” Wayne Newton featured within the music video.
“There’s a Place” (2015)
After a three-year hiatus following the discharge of Children within the Road in 2012, the All-American Rejects reemerged to drop the surprisingly soothing single “There’s a Place” in 2015. The monitor is far more mellow than something that they had beforehand launched, and Ritter’s voice appeared to have developed one thing of a folksy appeal, as in comparison with his typical sarcasm and angst. Although they’d performed it earlier than, “There’s a Place” is the simplest instance of the All-American Rejects experimenting with their sound.
“Me Vs. The World” (2020)
When the world wanted them probably the most, the All-American Rejects dropped the energetic “Me Vs. The World” throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The tune brings again fond reminiscences of the introspective but vigorous When the World Comes Down in each the lyrics and instrumentation. As an added perk, the All-American Rejects’ additionally introduced that proceeds from the tune could be donated to MusiCares, the Recording Academy’s nonprofit that assists with the well being and well-being of these within the business.
