Description

Out of the backwaters of Oklahoma rose the power-pop clatter of the All-American Rejects, whose 2002 self-titled debut album, released on the indie Doghouse Records, yielded a huge fan base and the attention of several major labels. In a field crowded with Blink-182 imitators, the band stood slightly apart by favoring ornate instrumentation, transparently honest lyrics, and a real knack for hooks and sing-along choruses. Although it took several years for the band to record and release a follow-up, 2005's MOVE ALONG was a big hit that yielded a charting single, the infectious "Dirty Little Secret."

Biography

Countless young kids were inspired to pick up instruments after discovering the radio and MTV friendly sounds of Weezer and Green Day during the mid-90s, resulting in an infiltration of similarly styled power pop acts by the early twenty-first century. One such band is the Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA-based quartet, the All-American Rejects. Like most other pop punk bands, the members of the All-American Rejects were initially heavy metal fans, prior to discovering their preferred musical style. Tyson Ritter (vocals/bass) and Nick Wheeler (guitar/keyboards) first met while attending the same school, which led to the duo eventually writing songs together and recording demos. A nine-track album followed in 2001, Same Girl, New Songs, which was subsequently re-released as a five-song EP. By now, Ritter and Wheeler had been joined by Mike Kennerty (guitar) and Chris Gaylor (drums), and opened shows for the Flaming Lips and Caroline's Spine. The quartet relocated to Brooklyn, New York, to work with producer Tim O'Heir on their self-titled album. Released in October 2002 on the independent label Doghouse, it was not long before All-American Rejects came to the attention of major label DreamWorks Records. The label signed the band and reissued their album a few months later.
DISCOGRAPHY: Same Girl, New Songs (Own Label 2001)**, All-American Rejects (Doghouse/DreamWorks 2002)***.
VIDEOGRAPHY: Live From Oklahoma: The Too Bad For Hell DVD (DreamWorks 2003).

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