Morning of, the six-piece band from Newburgh, NY, has embraced the retro '80s musical style with gusto. Their debut album, Welcome Change Goodbye Gravity received favorable reviews, and it seems as though their new album, The World As We Know It, will achieve much the same.

Sounding much like October Fall and other alternative pop/punk bands on the scene these days, Morning Of seems to offer a twist that's both refreshing and nostalgic. There's a good balance amongst Chris Petrosino's piano , which is strongly apparent on many of the album's tracks, Rob McCurdy's tight electric guitar riffs and Abir Hossiain's bass guitar. Jimmi Kane's drumming emulates a complex, rich style, which at times, dares to venture along the lines of intense.

The melodies alone would not necessarily be the source of the album's strength, but merely a backdrop to the distinct, contrasting vocals of Justin Wiley and Jessica Leplon, who add a theatrical feel to such songs as "Violins and Trees". They're youthful and sweet with just the right measure of pure innocence to awaken one out of whatever slump they may have fallen into.

The lyrics on such songs as, "Reverie" and "Let Your Spirit Soar", are uplifting and send a cheerful, positive message, neatly packaged into poems that give rise to elation and joy. One may wonder if this band's intention is to send a religiously inspired message.

One criticism about Morning Of is that some of the tracks are too similar to others, sometimes making it difficult to remember individual tracks. "Violins and Trees" is a nice change from some of the other tracks because it is played at a different pace. It's slower, jazz-style melody is a nice change.

Overall, the album shows this band has potential to move forward. The talent, originality and infectious enthusiasm pumped into each of their songs make it worth downloading to one's iPod.

This Reviewer's Rating: 3.5 / 5

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."