As far as pop goes, this album is amazing. I loved Hook Me Up, but it was just a little bit too electronic for me at times. My favorite song on that album is "In Another Life," which is probably the most subdued song, but the emotion (you could hear them sniffling!) and vocals are really moving. This album has an almost completely different style, but it's still the same Veronicas we know and love. 1) Sanctified 5/5 This is an experimental song to start the album off, and has a half-country half-rock sound to it. It's a really cool song in part because of how unexpected it is, and it's one of my favorites on this CD. 2) Did You Miss Me 4/5 This song has a noticeable hip-hop influence, but it's another solid (and different!) number from The Veronicas. It's catchy and the chorus brings back the familiar electronic sound of Hook Me Up. 3) Cruel 5/5 Another of my favorite songs on the album. This is pop perfection - it's infectiously addictive, has a great hook, showcases their vocals (especially Jessica's) instead of hiding them with the background track, and speaks to everyone who has struggled to get over their ex. 4) Line of Fire 3/5 Got tired of this one pretty quickly, but it fits the album as a whole in terms of sound and lyrics. 5) Teenage Millionaire 3/5 This song was just a little bit too young-sounding for me. It's very middle/high school, although it's definitely catchy. Doesn't really add anything special to the album. 6) Born Bob Dylan 4.5/5 Another song that's firmly pop, but I actually really like the chorus of this one. It builds up gradually, and it grew on me pretty quickly. 7) Always 4/5 Pretty stripped-down, and I appreciate that it's different in terms of story. It's neither tortured nor overly light, and is a solid addition to the CD because it's rather easy to listen to. 8) Mad Love 3/5 Catchy, but not as mature as the other songs. It's definitely not a stand-out, and actually got annoying after a few listens. 9) You Ruin Me 3.5/5 This song is both emotional and steady, but Lisa sings it solo, which is the kicker for me. I like Jessica's voice pretty significantly more, and was disappointed that she only comes in to harmonize with Lisa during the chorus, especially since this was the first single off the album. 10) More Like Me 5/5 This song grew on me slowly, and I like it largely because the chorus feels genuine, and gets almost raw towards the end of the song. 11) If You Love Someone 4/5 A great song, but it doesn't stand out too much for me. I like the regular verses more than the chorus, and it has a very positive message. 12) Cold 2/5 A song that I automatically skip because it's depressing without actually eliciting much emotion, and doesn't have a very compelling melody either. 13) Let Me Out 1.5/5 Not sure why I dislike this song so much, but neither the sound of the song nor the lyrics appeal to me at all. 14) You and Me 5/5 Strong folk influences here, and I think it's a really nice way to end the album on a positive note. Overall, I'm really impressed with this CD, and think it'd be one of the best pop albums of the year if not for tracks 12 and 13, which just drag the album down for me.
