The Starting Line - Based On A True Story (CD)

All Music Guide

Starting Line were just kids when they made Say It Like You Mean It, their 2002 fulllength debut. The Philly combo's energetic emo blushed with firsttime love and heartbreak, and not coincidentally their songs resonated most with kids in the midst of similar drama summers. Everyone's a little older for Based on a True Story. Kenny Vasoli is still singing about girls in his life and the feelings in his heart, but in 2005 those topics include marriage, longdistance relationships, and "What does it all mean?" examinations of purpose. And True Story takes a cue from the softer touch of 2003's Make Yourself at Home EP, incorporating acoustic guitars, emphasizing Vasoli's edgeoftears vocal, and favoring busy breaks rather than actual rocking. Although Starting Line have seemingly matured into a more grandiose version of A New Found Glory (without as much fun), they remain capable of a highlight like "Photography," an emoadult contemporary ballad with surging keys and strings and lovedizzy ly...rics ("You're making a small change to the way that you wear your heart/I like it better"). - Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide Read more Less