With its slick mix of pop/rock anthems and radio-ready melodies, All Sides presents an important question: what happens to the quintessential college band after 12 years of touring and recording? Essentially, the college band grows up. It's been more than a decade since O.A.R. honed their undergraduate-friendly sound at Ohio State University, and the five bandmates are now pushing 30. Faced with the prospect of playing mellow frat rock for another ten years, O.A.R. took a different approach on All Sides, hiring producer Matt Wallace (the man behind Maroon 5's Songs About Jane) in an effort to crack the Billboard singles charts. Wallace cloaks Marc Roberge's vocals in reverb and adds thick layers of piano, strings, and guitars. Of course, nobody can fault O.A.R. for trying something new, but polished adult contemporary fare is probably not their forte. Thankfully, traces of the oldO.A.R. show up during the album's second half. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide
Please give me back the REAL O.A.R.!! This was my favorite band in college (02-04'), their sound was one of a kind. I am hoping that their next disc is for "veteran fans". If not, I will never attend another O.A.R. concert or purchase a CD in support of their music. Please O.A.R. come back to your fans...we miss you!
Michael - yes they were headed toward more commercial success but only to bring out their roots to their new fanbase. if u knew anything about them u'd know what there is to come... the sound of their new material is nothing but their roots and better than ever. so never talk again.
edit: in two seperate interviews, both marc and jerry mentioned All Sides was for attention and their next disc will be strictly for the veteran fans. (in other words of course)
Don't be fooled by the whole "maturity" argument. OAR has lost any credibility it had left with All Sides. This album is a shameless attempt for radio play and a failure at that. If you're going to sell out you should at least make money doing it. The band deserted its grass roots following for KISS FM. Fans should not support this trash.