When the World Comes Down

iTunes Review

One need not subscribe to subcultural accessories to let this album work its magic — though the energy of a youthful mind and the passion of an adolescent heart are more likely to get singer Tyson Ritter's dire lyrics of vernal longings and lovelorn sagas. In production, the album doesn't stray far from 2005's Move Along. Maroon 5 producer Eric Valentine gives these songs a polished sound, glossing each track for radio saturation and video game placement. But there are also some fresh new goodies that have been brought to the party — like a lush string ensemble and an all-female choir. Also, folk band the Pierces drop in for a guest appearance on "Another Heart Calls," making for a dramatic song with an endearing call-and-response duet. "Gives You Hell" is a powerful standout that pumps funk-based beats, barbed melodies and what sounds like a locker room of football players chanting the chorus. The album's opener "I Wanna" is impossible to walk away from without humming the hook.