Credits:

The All-American Rejects

Description:

The All-American Rejects take stock of their emo and pop-punk roots on their hooky, thoughtfully reflective fifth album, 2026s Sandbox. The bands first album in over a decade, it finds singer Tyson Ritter looking back at his youth growing up in Oklahoma and crafting songs that vibrate with a scream-to-the-back-seats energy. Its a vibe they underscore from the start on the opening “Easy Come, Easy Go,” where Ritter howls over an overdriven, Weezer-esque guitar riff. Its a welcome return for a band who seemed to define the 2000s and almost didnt make it out of the decade, if not for 2012s Kids in the Street. Sandbox feels just as epic, showcasing a sound that nicely straddles the line between classic 70s power pop and the kind of wry, sugar-driven emo-pop that first garnered them attention. Its a potent combination they bring to the fore on the anthemic “King Kong,” evoking the sharp-