Artist: Alien Ant Farm
Album: Up in the Attic
DVD: BUSted: The Definitive DVD
Label: Universal 
Tracks: 14
Length: 54:04
Review by: John Durkee

Alien Ant Farm is back. After the huge success of ANThology and the general flop that truANT was I thought that AAF was done. Apparently others thought this too since most of the reviews I’ve read about the new album said something like this. Apparently the band went through hard times as they had a bus accident where the band’s bus driver died and singer Dryden Mitchell was left with a broken vertebra. The same year the band’s guitarist left the band. So a hiatus was much needed for AAF. Then when in the production of this new record the band experienced label issues which led to the record’s release being over a year late. A lot has happened since the band made a hit covering "Smooth Criminal."

Up in the Attic is somewhat of a return to form for AAF. There are some catchy rock songs on the record like its opener "Bad Morning." "Around the Block" is a pretty good song too, with a catchy chorus and is fairly humorous when Mitchell mentions all the various things he bought for his ex.  "Getting Closer" is a decent track as well and "Lord Knows" uses some horns to have a slightly different flavor than the rest of the album.

"She's Only Evil" is a pretty good acoustic ballad, and a bit of a departure from AAF’s typical sound. Perhaps this is the direction they should have gone for most of the new record though, as "She's Only Evil" is one of the few standout tracks on the record. Although it should be noted there are far more acoustic moments on the record ("Tragic Delight" is another example of this and is every bit as good as "She's Only Evil"), which adds some depth to the CD.

The lyrical themes on the record are pretty dark compared to their other releases. There really aren't any silly songs (like "Movies") on it (and no Michael Jackson covers) either. While a serious side to the lyrics is an ok and in many ways a good approach, the lyrics tend to be a little too straight forward and not even close to poetic, but I suppose AAF's main audience might not care much about this.

Overall, Up in the Attic is much like AAF’s past work as a clever mix of rock, punk elements, and nu-metal. Obviously their style is on the down turn in popularity, and with the band’s various issues, this might very well be a final record for the band. Either way, Up in the Attic is a decent record, but probably a slight disappoinment for former fans, especially since there isn’t as much of an edge musically. Still Up in the Attic is a pretty decent record.

The DVD is mediocre at best. There is a "documentary" (and I use that word lightly...) of mostly home video style footage of AAF before their fame and then them recording ANThology and the new album. Most of it is full of pretty stupid jokes and nudity (as in the band, no chicks in this thing), as well as showing them drinking and taking drugs here and there. Basically the “documentary” is pointless, but on the bright side you can see the singer when he had dreadlocks. The music videos on the DVD are mildly funny, but in general are pretty amateur. This DVD seems to be a poor decision by the band and the record label because it showcases how immature the band is (and unless you’re a junior high kid or love Jackass to death it won’t entertain anyone who isn’t already a huge fan of the band).

This is a pretty big disappointment since the band could have made a DVD that actually engages the band members about what is going on in their lives and give the band the opportunity to discuss what their music means to them and what it's really about. Yet this DVD would make one to assume that their music means little to them and having fun (if you can call it that) is all they care about.

So in short, if you liked their older material, the CD is ok, but no matter how much you like this band, the DVD sucks.

Up in the Attic:
BUSted: The Definitive DVD: