ALBUM REVIEW: Intermission by Shake It!

Shake It!: Intermission
As a general rule of thumb, when a band has a name as terrible as Shake It!, I shy away from even sampling their music. Although I’m usually not prone to ‘judge a book by its cover,’ there is just simply far too much music that craves my attention for me to dive any deeper. Fortunately, however, something intrigued me. Their debut EP, aptly titled Intermission, is a record of consistency as much as it is one of complacency. That’s not to say there aren’t any flaws; in fact, there are many.

Intermission begins as strongly as it’s going to get. The dance driven “It’s About Time We Step Outta Line” is catchy and jovial. With a chorus that will get stuck in your head until the end of the record, we experience a sense of promise and hope for things to come. Unfortunately, the dance gimmick continues on a downhill slope. “Don’t Flip That Jukebox” is a sad attempt at tough white-boy rock, with lyrics comparable to a Simple Plan poem. “You were such a cheater/I write these rules/You have been so easy to control/You’re such a tool.” I’d cry if I wasn’t busy snickering.

As an overall theme, the songs that encompass the middle of the record tend to be far too drawn out. It’s like the band tacked on an extra minute to each one just to meet quota. The songs themselves would serve far better as 2.5 – 3 minute tunes. “Dreamer” is the most promising on the EP; however, it never amounts to anything. I was hooked by the first minute and I only found myself disappointed at its lazy conclusion.

The album as a whole delivers very strong musically. Guitar riffs weave in and out of vocal lines that soar through Jamison Puckett’s range. His vocals grew on me more and more through every song, and I realized a strange comparison to a Shinedown meets Bedlight for Blue Eyes voice. This kid has talent, but at the moment, it’s being showcased in the wrong context. The EP’s finale showcases incredible guitar work from an otherwise cliché-sounding band.

Being their debut release, I see promise and potential. The songs are catchy, but come across as immature. When looking beneath the surface, there is something charming to be noted about these five gentlemen. This is entertaining music, and will definitely find them success in some form or another. I look very forward to where their music is headed, and your ears should too.