"Not original, but not bad"

Pop-rock seems to have a bad rep. It's not a very edgy medium, and a lot of the subject matter is the same, just told in a different key. "Boys Like Girls" clearly haven't been discouraged by this.

Boys Like Girls have unfalteringly embraced the genre in their debut self-titled album.

They open with "The Great Escape," a nostalgic love anthem. Regardless of the generally accepted opinion of pop-rock (at least held among people over the age of 15), it would be extremely difficult to deny the infectious nature of the song. The guitar line keeps it moving along at a nice, upbeat tempo and the lyrics will bring back memories of adolescence in the same way that The Ataris do.

The boys maintain a heavier sound in "On Top Of The World," a track that uses its quiet moments to excellent effect, adding pathos to a song about the traditional subject of hopes and dreams.

Boys Like Girls slow their momentum in "Thunder," which proves that they can abandon frivolous happiness. It's slower, more clearly emotional and in some ways less interesting. While it is a good song, it sounds a lot like Yellowcard and any number of other bands, thus showcasing one of the major problems with the album and the genre as a whole.

"Me, You and My Medication" is a slightly darker track (or at least as dark as pop-rock ever gets). The high-pitched guitar sound is reminiscent of edgier bands such as The Editors and Bloc Party, but the song maintains its sensitivity. The chorus is anthemic and exhilarating, and the lead singers voice is impressively vast in its range, going from husky lows to piercing highs.

"Up Against The Wall" is catchy as hell, the tempo creates an adrenaline rush and the lyrics add a disillusioned bend to the song: "Who said that it's better to have loved and lost? / I wish that I had never loved at all."

The band is not the most original ever, but when making this kind of music that would be asking a lot. So instead of attempting what many would consider to be the unachievable, Boys Like Girls have fun with the genre, writing songs about love and growing up.

They might not be anything different but they've certainly created a worthy addition to pop-rock.