Wow… one of the most influential album of my teenage years, Move Along by the All-American Rejects, turns 20 today..how time flies and man, do I feel old! I unashamedly listened to this album daily after school in 2006-2008 while dealing with the trials of junior high, battling anorexia, and overcoming the pressures of volleyball and weight training with college and olympic athletes at a very young age. I quite literally have this album memorized. Let’s discuss some of my favorite songs on this album that many call “underrated,” “top-tier,” “stacked with great song after great song,” and “[one of] the albums that [sparked interest] in pop-punk.”
“Dance Inside”
I love the tempo of this song, it is so beautiful and I love the idea of someone being there to “dance inside the song” with you as they “slip into you,’ as the lyrics say, as if someone’s heart is almost becoming a part of you to make you stronger and deal with your hard times. The pinch in the chorus is iconic, the song is so underrated and just makes my heart melt.
“Straightjacket Feeling”
This song is just the perfect song to listen to if you’re trying to get over someone. It gives you ALL the feels (“today I’m fine without you, runaway this time without you” and “that face is drilling holes in me”) and could be a movie score…though the song (and much of the album) is very simply written, it just captures emotion so perfectly. It is so emo and I never get tired of this song. I highly recommend it!
“I’m Waiting”
This song is the ultimate anthem for anyone who is getting over a toxic friend’s bullshit…the storm imagery in the song, the guitars, and the opener are strong and creative (“One question, what can’t be done, you tear me down with the same thing. There’s nothing, the end, it’s begun, what can you do when it all drains”). It was a monumental song for me growing up, as I got bullied by some women so badly that it started to get physical and I decided to get FIT…(with this song as a motivator!) Once I worked out alongside college athletes at 14, nobody could touch me! Listen to this one if you need to let out some angst and get fired up.
“Stab My Back”
This song is another great one to let out all your rage to, especially if someone has taken advantage of you (“Stab my back, it’s better when I bleed for you…walk on me it never was enough to do.”) We’ve all been there. The chorus is one of the heavier ones on the album and is SO catchy! The interlude music between choruses is super melodic too. So fire! When I heard AAR perform this song and “I’m Waiting,” live in Baltimore in September 2023, I nearly cried I was so excited…these songs are some of my absolute favorites!
“It Ends Tonight”
This one is another signature AAR song in my opinion. It’s a great slow and somber listen about there being a light at the end of the tunnel during hard times (“When darkness turns to light, it ends tonight.”) The chorus will get stuck in your head (in a good way) for sure and the song is so beautiful, it could play like a finale film score.
“Dirty Little Secret”
Ah, this song…what a classic. Now, for the hits. `”Dirty Little Secret” is a staple for every girl who grew up in the early 2000s, especially as this song was a mainstay in the cult classics “John Tucker Must Die” and “She’s The Man,” as so many women have dealt with a cheating boyfriend or being underestimated because of their sex…find some tips for dealing with the latter here. The opening riff is probably one of the most recognizable in pop punk history, and the chorus “(I’ll keep you my dirty little secret, don’t tell anyone or you’ll be just another regret..my dirty little secret, who has to know?”) is upbeat, feels a little bad and fun and is also extremely catchy…no wonder this one was a worldwide hit!
“Move Along”
The one on the album that started it all…”Move Along” is truly a masterpiece. From the killer guitar intro, to the inspiring lyrics and passionate chorus, this song is quite literally pop-punk and emo at their finest, which is probably what made this song a classic that has gone down in history for years to come.
Move Along has a song for every mood and captures emotion so perfectly, especially for all of us young adults at the time. While the lyrics are quite literal, they are so inspiring, encouraging all of us to tackle all of life’s problems with the strength of a thunderstorm. This album is a classic for a reason, and will be for many more years to come. Check it out here!
Till Next Time!
XOXO,
Meagan