Don't Panic (All Time Low album)

In November 2009, All Time Low announced they had signed to major label Interscope Records.[2] Close to the end of the recording process for Dirty Work, vocalist/guitarist Alex Gaskarth said the album would be released in January 2011.[3] However, in that month Gaskarth said the album would be released sometime between January and March.[4] In February, Gaskarth said the album would not be released in March due to "restructuring" of Interscope Records and a number of records have been pushed back, including Dirty Work.[5] He followed this up by saying that "a bunch of people got fired. We just wanted to make sure we didn't get caught up in that shit storm essentially".[6] Drummer Rian Dawson said people were "either replaced or fired or let go or reassigned and none of the people that kind of believed in us and said 'we can do this together' were still there."[7] The band released eventually Dirty Work in June.[8] Towards the end of the year, the band parted ways with Interscope Records. Gaskarth said Dirty Work was "kind of dead in the water".[1] According to Dawson, the group said "look, this isn't the same label we signed with, you don't really have much interest in our band, let's just split ways. ... And they were like, alright! And it was truly that easy."[7]

Gaskarth said "I don't fault the folks at Interscope for any of this. ... Unfortunately we got lost in the mess of big business and higher-ups making deals. ... We asked to be released from our contract, and they understood why."[1] Following the departure from Interscope Records, the band held a meeting about what they would do next.[9] Shortly afterwards, the band began working on their next album.[1] In mid-October, Gaskarth revealed that the band were in the process of demoing new material.[10] In early November, Gaskarth said the band have been working on music while on tour. He mentioned that he was "really excited about the direction of the new music and where everything might be going" and that they might continue writing into December.[11] On December 1, AbsolutePunk reported that the band were working with Mike Green.[12] It was also reported that Cassadee Pope of Hey Monday was recording harmonies for one of the band's demos.[13] In January and February, the band went on a tour of the UK.[14] After returning home, Gaskarth "realised that I just had so much to say" and subsequently wrote nine songs.[15] He also said he plans to write a further 10 or 11 songs prior to entering a studio.[15]

On March 8, the band said they were in a studio.[16] On March 12, Gaskarth posted that they were working with Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy.[17] On April 19, Dawson said the group had completed seven days of pre-production, as well as stating that he recorded drums in a 10–11 hour span.[18] The band were recording in Los Angeles with Green, who had previously produced a number of songs on Dirty Work. In addition, Gaskarth co-produced the sessions.[19] The band self-funded the sessions with the aim of earning their money back later on. According to Gaskarth, Green "made a lot of exceptions by giving us a break financially by making the record first" and would follow it up whenever the band signed to a record label.[20] Gaskarth said deciding to work with Green again was "a no-brainer" since he "felt the most natural" as well as "complements us as a band. He feels like a fifth member. Like, he pulls everything together."[19]

With Nothing Personal (2009) and Dirty Work, the band worked with several producers, which made the albums come across as "a little bit inconsistent", according to Gaskarth.[20] Working solely with Green for this album "felt like it was the best way to get a solid, clear vision and a concise sound throughout the whole record."[20] He went on to say they wanted to "make this album ourselves, and for us and the fans, with no outside opinions diluting or influencing the vision."[1] According to Gaskarth, the only outside person to visit the studio was the band's manager, "because that’s an opinion we really value, as that dude’s been with us from the get go. It was much more organic."[21] Kyle Black acted as assistant engineer while Dawson provided additional engineering. Courtney Ballard, Will McCoy and Jeff Sontag did editing.[22] On May 10, Gaskarth said the band was close to completing their next album.[23] On May 16, the band revealed they had finished recording,[24] having tracked 15 songs in total.[21] The album was mixed by Neal Avron and mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound.[22]

According to Gaskarth, the band toyed with the idea of self-releasing the album, "but one of the limitations that comes along with that is just not having a team there to work the music."[27] He said the band take care of the performance aspect and "shouldn't have to worry about where it's being sold and how it's being marketed."[27] They prefer to have control over the marketing, but would rather let another entity handle it.[27] The band subsequently contacted a number of record labels to see who would be interested in signing them. Gaskarth said this was "a good situation" as it allowed them to "sit back and mull over a decision and make the decision that was absolutely, 100 percent what’s best for us."[19] He went on to say that some bands need to make compromises when they're young, "as was the case [with] Interscope [Records] ... because that’s the only way you’ll get it done."[19] However, the band were now "in [a] unique position where we were able to ask for exactly what we wanted and see who was willing to give [us] that."[19] The group subsequently had discussions with a lot of people and labels.[19] On May 28, the band posted an image on their website, which read "The Reckless and the Brave", alongside a countdown[39] that was set to end on June 1.[40] On June 1, a song with the name "The Reckless and the Brave" was made available for streaming[41] and for free download.[42]

The band were approached by independent label Hopeless Records, who had previously released the band's So Wrong, It's Right (2007) and Nothing Personal albums, with a "forward-thinking deal" that provided a "very equal-opportunity and beneficial situation for everyone".[19] The band performed some shows with Green Day and Angels & Airwaves in Europe[43] in June.[7] From mid-June to early August, the band performed on the main stage at Warped Tour.[44] A lyric video for "The Reckless and the Brave" was released on June 22.[45] The band announced they had signed with Hopeless Records on July 3. In addition, they band revealed that their next album would be released in the fall.[19] On that same day, "The Reckless and the Brave" was released as a single.[46] On July 19, Barakat revealed that the album was mixed, mastered and had its track listing finalized.[47] On August 9, Don't Panic was announced for release in October.[48] Later that month, the band performed a few shows in the UK prior to their appearance at the Reading and Leeds Festivals.[49] "For Baltimore" was premiered via Alternative Press on August 24.[50] The track was released as a single on August 28.[51] On the same day, a trailer for the album was posted online,[52] and the album's track listing and artwork was revealed.[53]

The artwork was designed by Brett Jubinville,[22] who had previously created art designs for the band's tours. For the artwork, the group had a "end of the world" concept in mind, which they wanted to come across as unique and stand out. Gaskarth said Jubinville "killed it! He came up with all the ways the world could end happening at once."[20] He also said it was a nod to the 2012 phenomenon.[20] A lyric video was posted online for "For Baltimore" on the same day.[54] On September 13, another trailer for the album was posted online.[55] Further promotional videos were posted on September 16 and 17.[56][57] Also on September 17, "Somewhere in Neverland" was released as a single.[58] A day later, a lyric video was posted online for the song.[59] This was followed by even more promotional videos between September 19 and 24.[60][61] On September 27, "Outlines" was made available for streaming.[62] On October 2, the album was made available for streaming on YouTube with accompanying lyrics, as well as animated visuals.[63] The band then went on the Triptacular, a three-day event where the band performed in Tokyo, London and New York City between October 7 and October 9.[63] Don't Panic was released on October 8.[64] In October and November, the band went on The Rockshow at the End of the World Tour in the US, alongside the Summer Set, the Downtown Fiction, Hit the Lights and the Early November.[48] During the tour, the band did in-store signings, as well as acoustic performances.[65]

On October 18, a music video was released for "For Baltimore".[66] In January 2013, the band went on a co-headlining North America tour with Yellowcard.[67] In February, the band went on a tour of the UK with support from Lower Than Atlantis[68] and the Summer Set.[69] In February and March, the band performed at Soundwave festival in Australia.[70] Alongside the festival, the band performed sideshows with Polar Bear Club and Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!.[71] On March 19, a music video for "Somewhere in Neverland" was premiered by MTV. According to David Greenwald of MTV, the video "captures the band flying a hot-air balloon into space and through a magic cave, where they attempt to eat dinner with giant-size silverware."[72] Later in March, the band went on a tour of Singapore and Japan.[72] In April and May, the band went on the Spring Fever tour, a co-headlining North America tour with Pierce the Veil, with support from Mayday Parade and You Me at Six.[73] On May 9, a music video was released for "Backseat Serenade",[74] directed by Jeremy Rall.[75] According to Rock Sound, the video features "arcades, dressing up and dogs".[76] A behind-the-scenes video was posted online the following day.[77] In late May, the band headlined the Slam Dunk festival in Leeds, Hatfield and Wolverhampton,[78] followed by a support slot for Green Day in London on June 1.[79] In August and September, the band went on a tour of Australia.[80]

On August 30, it was announced that Don't Panic would be reissued later in the year under the name Don't Panic: It's Longer Now!.[81] It included "A Love Like War" as well as three new songs and acoustic versions of other songs.[82] "A Love Like War" was released as a single on September 2.[83] In addition, a music video was released for the song.[84] A clip of the track "Oh, Calamity!" was posted online on September 9.[85] In September and October, the band supported A Day to Remember on the House Party tour in the US.[86] In between dates on the tour, the band played a few headlining shows with The Wonder Years.[87] Don't Panic: It's Longer Now! was made available for streaming on September 26,[88] before being released on September 30,[85] initially limited to 15,000 physical copies on CD.[89] On October 5, a behind-the-scenes video of the band filming the "A Love Like War" video was posted online.[90] In March 2014, the band went on a tour of the UK.[91] From late March to early May, the band went on the A Love Like Tour in the US, with support from Man Overboard and Handguns.[92] On May 14, a music video was released for "The Irony of Choking on a Lifesaver".[93] It features footage of the band's show in London from earlier in the year.[94]

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	74/100[95]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AbsolutePunk	90%[96]
AllMusic	[38]
Alter the Press!	[97]
Alternative Press	[98]
The Baltimore Sun	[99]
FasterLouder	Mixed[100]
Gigwise	Favorable[101]
idobi	[102]
Rock Sound	8/10[103]

The album received positive reviews (with a Metacritic scoring of 74, indicating generally favorable reviews), with critics praising Gaskarth's song writing and the album's sound as a whole.

All songs written by Alex Gaskarth, additional writing by Mike Green, and additional writing on "Outlines" by Patrick Stump.[22]

Personnel per digital booklet,[22] except where noted.

Citations

Sources

• Don't Panic: It's Longer Now! at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)