Hold on Tight

by Hey Monday

Overview

Given their emo-pop influences and powerhouse female vocals, it's hard not to draw parallels between Hey Monday and Paramore. Cassadee Pope serves as the band's centerpiece, howling lovelorn lyrics with all the marketable grit of Hayley Williams while her bandmates pummel through power chords and group singalongs. Paramore's platinum-selling Riot! incorporated elements of hard rock, though, while Hey Monday go for a sweeter approach with their own album, which takes its sustenance from bubblegum pop melodies and well-scrubbed guitar riffs. Hold on Tight also benefits from the presence of S*A*M & Sluggo, the veteran production team that scored hit singles with Cobra Starship's "Snakes on a Plane" and Metro Station's "Shake It." Writing in tandem with those producers (as well as guest collaborators Butch Walker and William Beckett), Hey Monday come up with a number of radio-geared pop anthems: "Homecoming," whose guitar intro borrows from "Hazy Shade of Winter";" "Set Off," an us-against-the-world dose of adrenaline; and "How You Love Me Now," the sort of sonic guilty pleasure that inspires teens to roll down their car windows and crank the stereo. There's certainly some filler here, particularly toward the album's conclusion, but Hold on Tight is still stacked with enough T.G.I.F. nuggets to make it an engaging debut. ~ Andrew Leahey

Product Details

Release Date:	10/07/2008
Label:	Columbia / Decaydance/Columbia
UPC:	0886973195925

Tracks

1. Set Off
2. How You Love Me Now
3. Homecoming
4. Obvious
5. Candles
6. Run, Don't Walk
7. Josey
8. Hurricane Streets
9. Arizona
10. Should've Tried Harder
11. 6 Months

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Hey Monday   Primary Artist
Rob Mathes   String Conductor
Peter Lale   Viola
Perry Mason   Conductor
Warren Zielinski   Violin
Joseph Pepper   Guitar
Anthony Pleeth   Cello
Sean Gould   Guitar
Cassadee Pope   Vocals
Will Pugh   Vocals
Clifford Carter   Piano
Mike Gentile   Guitar
Alex Lipshaw   Guitar
Elliot James Mulhern   Drums
Michael Moriarity   Guitar (Bass)
Warren Zalinski   Violin
Steve Shebby   Bass
Michael Moriarty   Bass

Technical Credits

Rob Mathes   String Arrangements,Arranger
Scott Hull   Mastering,Remastering
William Beckett   Composer
Peter Cobbin   Engineer
Clifford Carter   Engineer
Lewis Jones   Assistant
Bill Sitzmann   Photography
Matt Govaere   Art Direction,Design
Peter Lale   Leader
Warren Zielinski   Leader
Butch Walker   Composer
Isobel Griffiths   String Contractor
Stephen Harris   Mixing
Sam Hollander   Composer,Programming
Anthony Pleeth   Leader
Sean Gould   Engineer,Audio Engineer
Hey Monday   Composer
Cassadee Pope   Group Member
Sluggo   Producer,Audio Production
Alex Lipshaw   Group Member
Elliot James Mulhern   Group Member
Bert Disend   Producer
SAM   Producer
Jay Harren   A&R
Bret Disend   Executive Producer
S*A*M   Audio Production
Krisana Palma   Stylist
Dave Katz   Composer,Programming
Kumi Craig   Groomer
Michael Moriarty   Group Member