The first time this album came out last summer it got rave reviews from top name music magazines everywhere. I read the hype without ever giving any of the record, minus its mind numbingly catching single "Hands Down", much of a listen. When the reissue came my way a few weeks back I found this a prime opportunity to see what all the hype was about.

I was surprised to listen and find that the hype was just that, hype. I mean it's not a bad album. It's just not so amazing. There are certain stand out songs, my favorite being "Hey Girl" (it's my fave because it's the most fun song on the album), but most of the songs just kind of a sound a little too much the same.

But, as far as emo-pop albums go A Mark... has all the standards- acoustic guitars and lyrics about heartbreak and lost love. But, as far as I'm concerned lead singer Chris Carrabba is the king of emo-pop. I mean he knows what he's doing when he sits down to write a song. He knows the kids like to hear standard pop-rock beats with heart tugging acoustic pop-punk and emo-pop riffs.

So, if you got the album the first time around, which if you love Dashboard than I'm sure you did, I'd suggest you pass on it's reissue. Unless, of course, you missed the episode of Album Covers where Chris and REM's Michael Stipe croon out old REM hits. In that case, who am I to tell you otherwise?