I always thought that the Click Five was an underrated emo band, especially considering the fact that my favorite song from them, "Catch Your Wave", went virtually unnoticed. But original frontman Eric Dill has now been replaced by Kyle Patrick, who tries to bring the band more acclaim with their sophomore album, Modern Minds and Pastimes.

It sounds like the band is steadily trying to stray away from the punk-pop scene, which is especially evidenced by the club-sounding "Headlight Disco". Also, there are more mellow songs this time around, but fortunately they're impressive: "Empty" and "The Reason Why" are good examples of this. The new wave vibe of "Addicted to Me" is also pretty good.

As much as I try not to compare different lead singers, I still have to say that Kyle's voice doesn't exactly have the same energy that Eric's voice had, and sometimes it shows, especially on tracks like "I'm Getting Over You", "When I'm Gone" and "Happy Birthday" (but the latter two songs don't exactly have the best lyrics either). The chorus to "Long Way to Go" is also uninspiring.

Although the Click Five WERE a little better in their first incarnation (but whoever called them "the Beatles of this generation" needs to listen to the Beatles more closely), Modern Minds and Pastimes is still an above-average album. It might take a little getting used to, but it's still good enough to add to your collection.

Anthony Rupert

I just heard "The Clicks" a couple of months ago fro the first time, but I instantly fell in love with them. The album is great, I love every single song of it. My favourites are: When I'm Gone, Long Way To Go, I'm Getting Over You, Jenny and Empty. I think this album is much-much better than the first one, although I like that too.

Like the Killers and the Bravery, the Click Five have managed to hit dullsville on their second album. The replacement of the lead singer, always a band's identity, is a major problem, as are the songs. Only "Flipside", "Jenny", and "I'm Getting Over You" manage to get above the waterline here. One other track, "Headlight Disco", shows promise, but in a completely new direction a la Shiny Toy Guns. If the Click Five want to be anything more than a novelty band they better find a direction and stick to it, and soon. And bringing back the original lead singer wouldn't be a bad move either.

To be honest I really don't know where to start,I love this whole album!
From the very catchy and fun to sing single "Jenny" to the amazing ballad "Empty". This album shows much more maturity than the debut album "Greetings from Imrie House". Kyle Patrick just fits right in,he looks the part and sounds the part. I love his voice. I am also impressed once again with the original members,Joe Guese,Joey Zehr,Ben Romans,and Ethan Mentzer! They all made this album awesome! I am just so excited about this album! I give an A plus all the way!! I love the Click Five and MMAP!!

This is a very biased review, I'll admit that. The debut album by The Click Five (Greetings from Imrie House) was magic in a bottle. The power-pop formula backed by the innocent-yet-powerful lead voice was fresh and exciting. Those of you who own it know what I'm talking about. They were The Beatles of this generation. If you are a fan of the first album and want more of that, do NOT expect to find that here. I bought this album not even realizing they replaced the lead singer, and while I felt open-minded enough to accept a more mature sound in the music style, leaving the staple voice behind is what makes The Click Five no longer the act they were at all.

It is not fair for me to give this album a poor rating since I am strictly tainting it because of the extreme difference from the first, but I'm just so disappointed that The Click Five I loved no longer exists. From the two times I listened to this album, it is not a bad pop/rock album, and perhaps if it was some new act with a different name I would have liked it but the electrified, infectious magic of the Imrie House days are truly over.

REVIEW EDIT: Ok, its weeks later and now that I've gotten OVER the fact that the band has a new singer and some time has passed, I decided to give this album another shot. I regret the star rating I gave it originally. It's a super-tight well-written pop album. The new singer has an EXCELLENT voice, its just not what I had expected and I just happen to like the previous singer more. Check out the samples, if you like what you hear, its an excellent album.

I'm always amazed music like this still exists, you would think once songs like "Happy Birthday" have been done, there wouldn't be any point in the next generation coming along and doing the same thing. Didn't the Fixx already record "Addicted" back in the 80's? I was sure the Goo Goo's did "Over You", but I can't seem to find it. I don't know, maybe joyful choruses, bright keyboards and crunching guitars just sound universally good.

The new Dill-less version of Click Five sounds great, perfect vocals and hooks mixed up big, loud and splashy. Kyle Patrick looks and sounds like a star to me, ain't he pretty? Heck yes. The song writing by the band's core members is very good, though as almost always happens in young bands, they rely on tempo changes within songs too much to add drama. Copying traditional song transitions and passages is inevitable when you lack maturity, but you can never learn to have an ear for what sounds good, that's instinct. Just as an album, this cuts up anything a similar sounding big pop band like, say, The Outfield, ever did. With that they can grow and do something really memorable, there's certainly nothing on this CD that grates the ears, though much of it sounds like the same song, especially in the choruses. Still, lots of promise, hope they go someplace.

Why is this better??? Start with their new singer/guitarist Kyle Patrick...more of a true powerpop singer, not as teen-oriented, and he fits seamlessly into the band...a comfortable fit.

Next up, the songwriting. BIG improvement over the debut...not that THAT was a bad album, not at all. But here, on MM&P, there are no ripoffish tunes ("Angel To You, Devil To Me" is a complete steal of Bryan Adam's "This Time", for instance), there are NO COVERS!!!! "I'll Take My Chances" on the debut is a SWIRL 360 tune, and the original was better. Yes, "Just The Girl" was a great song, but it wasn't written by the band...with a powerpop band like them, it's just best they write all the songs themselves, and on this record, the band, espesh keyboard player/songwriter Ben Romans wrote/cowrote all 12...and there are some real gems here. That's the key...the Click 5 are more concerned here with writing good tunes, just because they are good, NOT because they want some hits. This is a good example of good UNCOMMERCIAL powerpop...great melodies and lyrics that get under your skin and stick to your brain. That's what pop/powerpop is, not about what's popular, underdstand???

"Jenny", the first single is grand, "Addicted To Me" is amazing, "Long Way To Go" is a really cool rocker with a sorta rapped/chanted-along, hypercatchy, ultramemorable, garagey delivery, "I'm Getting Over You" is a really melodic, haunting, Badfinger-ish type of powerpop/ballad hybrid, "Headlight Disco" is a great anomaly...a powerpop/disco hybrid that works like a charm. Opener "Flipside" is a catchy, doo-wop influenced song. All 12 songs are cool and a major improvement...could be a new beginning for the band...if they get dropped, they should not break up because it feels like they're just getting started.

Only the new Rooney is a better powerpop album out this year...but this gets a solid B+. Bravo, boys...and I'm looking forward to Kyle writing more songs with the band.

It is unfortunate that The Click Five has an attached "tween pop" reputation remnant from their first album Greetings From Imrie House. In their sophomore album, listeners will find more rock roots than before, which adds to their credibility. This is highly due to their new sound of their new lead singer, Kyle Patrick. Modern Minds and Pastimes shows great growth in the music and in the band. It's still power pop but now with a rock edge. Every song is crafted in such a way that no instrument nor voice is overpowering. In more ways than one, it is a tribute to pop music over the last half century, especially the '70s and '80s. The pop gems on this album are extremely well crafted. Each song can easily stand on its own as a single: Great guitar hooks and catchy melodies. And, of course, they continue to do things with the keyboard and synthesizer that you would rarely find in today's pop music. Kudos to keyboardist Ben Romans, whose name appears in every song information, and to the rest of the band for writing such great works of art!

Like I mentioned earlier, it is unfortunate that in the past The Click Five has been shoved under the same categories as pop-record-company-engineered singers and bands. Really, how many pop bands today write their own music? And write it well?

I'm not expecting this album to do well in the first stages of its release, but as time goes on and people discover that The Click Five is a band that has what it takes to last, Modern Minds And Pastimes is going to be a big hit.

I got this album because I loved "Just the Girl." I never bought Greetings from Imrie House, but I thought I'd go ahead and give this one a chance. I am so glad I did! The band's original sound was fun and catchy, but deeply adolescent. Modern Minds and Pastimes shows a significantly more mature sound and moderately more mature subject matter. It sounds like these boys have at least lived a little bit. Most importantly I played it through once, loved every minute, and immediately started it over again because I just couldn't get enough!

This album is incredible. Catchy tunes will get you hooked. The lyrics revolve around young love. This album is definitely better than Greetings From Imrie House. This album includes many influences from past music influences. From disco techno synthesizers in "Headlight Disco" to catchy melodies in "Flipside," each track carries its own individual characteristics. Also, slower mellower songs like "Mary Jane" and "Empty" will get you thinking about that relationship that's falling apart. On the other hand, "When I'm Gone" and "Long Way To Go" offers heavy rock tunes which takes The Click Five to a more "rock" edge in their music. Moreover, all the tracks offer a broad range of tunes to capture a wide range of listeners. Bottom line... Five Stars All The Way.

The Click Five's sophomore album, Modern Minds and Pastimes is impossible not to fall in love with. It's obivious that the members of The Click Five put their heart and souls into the lyrics and music, working hard to make music that was both meaningful and catchy at the same time. I've been an obsessed fan of The Click Five for years now, and when Eric Dill left the band, I was thouroughly dissapointed. All I could think was, it's all downhill from here...but I was definetely wrong! Their new addition to the band, Kyle Patrick has a different voice than Eric and brings a different sound but he is just as enjoyable as Eric, maybe even more! The tracks on this album make you just want to dance and sing-a-long, and get stuck in your head for days. And for once, it's a good thing! haha Their new album is absolutely addicting and made me fall in love with the band and their music all over again. I didn't know it was possible, but I love The Click Five even MORE than I had before. Modern Mind's and Pastimes: ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. I would suggest it to anyone and everyone who was looking for great music and tunes that'll put a smile on their face. =)

Most sophomore albums fall short for trying too hard. After listening to this one, it is plainly obvious that the Click Five is trying too hard not to sound like they're trying too hard. In a nutshell, the short, uptempo rock songs with a crisp hook have been replaced by songs in the vein of "It Ends Tonight" by All American Rejects. The choruses supplied by the genious songwriting of Adam Schlesinger are also absent this time around, and thus the album is boring. Its not that the Click Five are not talented, but they clearly are missing their original singer on this record. Bands that change their sound on their second album usually end up in the gutter, even if it takes awhile (just ask the Spin Doctors, Third Eye Blind, Hootie and the Blowfish, Good Charlotte, etc.) This album is not that bad, it is not that good either. And when you are strictly a singles-oriented pop band, great hooks are essential and these songs just don't have them. It was impossible not to bob your head or tap your feet and hum along to their previous album. This album just dosen't have any magic like that, and each individual song manages to fall short in some way.

I've been a Click Five fan since I first saw them back in early 2005. Their first CD, Greetings From Imrie House, easily had me hooked. However, as time passed, it seemed my so-called 'obsession' with them was fading.

A few months ago, I heard the first single off the new album, "Jenny", and noticed a completely different sound. After some research, I found out that the lead singer had left and was replaced by Kyle. Kyle's voice is very refreshing. After going to a couple of their small venue shows earlier this month, it's clear that they have matured greatly in their music. The passion they have for their music and the show they put on makes me realize WHY I fell in love with them in the first place.

If you weren't a fan of The Click Five before, I say give this CD a listen - I'm sure your mind will change.

My favorite tracks on the album are "Headlight Disco" and "Addicted To Me". "Addicted To Me" has a funky disco-type vibe to it. "Headlight Disco" makes you want to get up and dance. GREAT album.