The Audition - 'Champion' (Victory) Released 28/01/08

The Audition have swapped punk for funk on album number two. ‘Champion’ is laced with hip-wriggling guitars, bum-shaking beats and sexually-charged vocals. The result is a plethora of positive, energetic tracks but the absence of the crunching riffs from their first offering is all too apparent. Stunning debut ‘Controversy Loves Company’ had the killer combination of riot-inducing riffs, and callous lyrics that instantly grabbed your attention. The Chicago lads were seen as the new fresh-faced leaders of the pop-punk scene. Thus this adventurous and somewhat risky change in direction is all the more intriguing. With recent releases from bands such as All Time Low and Mayday Parade, which unapologetically stick to the stagnant pop-punk formula, ‘Champion’ is a breath of fresh air. If The Audition were boarding on the mainstream radar with their debut, ‘Champion’ should well and truly confirm 2008 is their year.

‘Basbhat’ kicks off the album and the hint of the new sleek sound is evident. Danny Stevens’s vocals are crisp, confident and have an added depth not heard on their debut. ‘Warm Me Up’ is their comeback single, the choice was a simple one, the most straight forward track on the LP, the pop hooks and mammoth Panic At The Disco-like chorus is as radio-friendly as they come. The funk-ridden guitars on ‘Edinboro’ make it an hip-shaking classic, with a slightly more striking chorus, it could have been their signature tune. ‘Hell To Sell’ really tests Stevens as a vocalist, one he passes with ease, but it is still left to be determined if some of the new songs will carry as well live. The Audition have nailed the slow punk-rock ballad with ‘Can You, Will You?’ and amidst the spiralling success of Plain White T’s slow burner ‘Hey There Delilah’ the time could be ripe for a single release.

All ten tracks hold the ear, but only a handful really command your undying devotion from the off. ‘Champion’ is certainly a grower and with a UK headlining tour commencing at the end of February, it could be the perfect time period to soak up the songs ready to sing them back to the young fivesome. Credit must be given for trying something outside the rigid restraints of the scene, a risk that should pay off without the ‘sell-out’ slurs echoing in their ears.

‘Champion’ is refreshingly original and is sure to entice a whole hoard of new followers. But amongst the die-hard fans fed on ‘Controversy Loves Company’ there will be those that crave a couple of furious full-pelt chunks of punk-rock that never surface, and with only ten tracks amassing just half-hour, surely there was scope for a little more variation. That said, ‘Champion’ judged on its own, stands proud as an invigorating cocktail of influence and innovation, that never fails to raise spirits and shake some asses.