Kids in the Street

'Kids in the Street' opens with "Someday's Gone," a lacerating takedown of a person lead singer, bassist, and lyricist Tyson Ritter says tried to destroy him emotionally. It's followed by first single "Beekeeper's Daughter," which finds Ritter assuming the feckless character of a guy who believes he can get away with all manner of bad behavior and still get the girl. Then there's the title track, the majestic "Kids in the Street," which Ritter says is a nostalgic reflection on how far the Rejects have come. "It's about realizing you can always hold onto moments where you still feel alive. That's the theme of the album: Hitting bottom and realizing you can't stand up until you find the floor." With its surreal, synth-driven sound, "Kids in the Street" is also an indicator of how the band has let itself grow musically.

The band credits working with Grammy-nominated producer Greg Wells (Adele, Katy Perry, OneRepublic) with helping them to evolve while still retaining what their fans love about them. "The whole record was this collaborative effort where Greg felt more like a fifth member than a producer," Ritter says. "He really spoke our language, which translated into the sound of the album. If you really want to know what Kids In The Street sounds like, it sounds like The All-American Rejects got their shit together and wrote a record that was going to keep them around."