Since their formation back in 2001, electro power pop-punk rockers Hellogoodbye have come on leaps and bounds. Starting off as a two-piece school project, with Forrest and Jesse producing synthesised power pop songs on computer, the band has since accumulated two further members [Marcus and Chris] as well as signing to independent label Drive-Thru Records, allowing them to release their self-titled debut EP back in 2004. Great respect should be given to the boys from Huntington Beach, California, as the band is self-sufficient, in doing all their recording, album artwork, even poster and merchandising designs themselves. Following on the success of the Hellogoodbye EP, the band has returned once again with the bizarrely titled full-length album Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!
Since announcements of the long awaited album back in the early parts of the 2006, I scoured the Internet relentlessly looking for information on the future release. Eager with anticipation, the title was revealed on their website and immediately I saw the usual eccentricity of the band come through in the title alone. This was further accentuated with the release of the artwork for the album. The offbeat and somewhat out of the ordinary sound of Hellogoodbye [complete with sound clips from Mortal Kombat] could only be complimented with artwork to match. However, disappointment struck with the release of the track listing for Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! Of the eleven songs recorded for the album, I had already managed to acquire at least seven of them. Unfortunately for the band, most of the albums songs had been available through various peer-to-peer sites around the world.
This however, does not take away from the quality of the album. For although a substantial number of songs were already made available, they are themselves tracks of the highest quality and stylisation of Hellogoodbye. For example the song “Figures A and B [Means You and Me]” had been a part of my library since I bought the EP way back when. But the synthesized effects used on the vocals as well as the keyboard made this a sure fire favourite for me, right up there with “Touchdown Turnaround [Don’t Give Up On Me]”. And even if you are in possession of the same seven songs, it is well worth buying the album for the other four songs.
The general thesis for the band’s approach to song content appears to centre on the emotion of love, with all of their songs at least referencing some form or aspect of love. Unlike most bands of the era who approach songs of this nature, with usual gloom and negativity, Hellogoodbye more often than not have a more positive out look, making this album and uplifting experience to all who listen to it.
“Then I saw it on your keyboard / And you saw it on my sleeve / I never knew a heart existed / Outside of make believe / ‘Til I saw it on your keyboard / I knew I had a chance / To catch a shooting star” - 'I Saw It On Your Keyboard'
Whenever I find myself in a bad mood and wanting to find a sense of escapism, this is the album I find myself instinctively reaching for on the shelf. There is quite no other band out there that could stand next to Hellogoodbye and complete on a level playing field. Only one song would have made this album even better than it already is; “If You Wanna… I Might” but still the up-beat songs that already exist within the playlist are more than enough to satisfy any Hellogoodbye fan and indeed anyone new to the band. Definitely recommended as an addition to your CD collection.
 
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