That New Sound You're Looking For

Background

What's Eating Gilbert began in Los Angeles in 2009 as a solo project of New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert. The name is taken from Peter Hedges' book What's Eating Gilbert Grape. Despite Gilbert being busy with New Found Glory, What's Eating Gilbert released three EPs in 2010, following up with the Cheap Shots in 2012. According to the liner notes of Cheap Shots, What's Eating Gilbert consisted of Gilbert and Elgin James. A split release with Octaves followed a year later. In an interview with Alternative Press in September, What's Eating Gilbert consisted of Gilbert on vocals and guitar, Honor Nezzo on keyboard and vocals, Audelio Flores, Jr. of Set Your Goals on bass, and New Found Glory member Cyrus Bolooki on drums. In the same month, a music video was released for "Complaining", the aesthetic of which was "important to the introduction of this band". Also in September, What's Eating Gilbert went on a headlining tour with support from Tegan and Sara and Twin Forks. In October, the band supported Motion City Soundtrack and Bayside. An EP was released in 2014 consisting of cover songs.

Recording

That New Sound You're Looking For was recorded in January 2014. It was produced by Jon Howard and Gilbert. Hayley Williams of Paramore contributes vocals to "Wearing Your Ring".

Release

On May 7, 2015 it was announced that Gilbert's project had signed to Hopeless and that the label would release Gilbert's debut album. According to Gilbert, Hopeless wished to released the album when Gilbert could tour his side project. The next day, the artwork was released. On June 2, "You're the Most" was released as single. A day later, a music video was released for the song. The video was directed by Gilbert. On July 10, That New Sound You're Looking For was released through Hopeless. The album was advertised as a "nostalgic tribute to music of the 1950s and '60s." After being asked why it took so long for the album to be released, Gilbert replied that "New Found Glory [...] had an action-packed last year and a half" and waited "until I had some time off." On the same day, a lyric video was released for "Follow Her Around". The album's title is a reference to Back to the Future. In July, Gilbert supported Anthony Raneri of Bayside alongside Laura Stevenson and Allison Weiss on the Sorry State of Mind Tour.

Reception

AllMusic reviewer Timothy Monger said the release "sounds like a fairly straightforward power pop album". He noted that "it's a pleasant experiment that doesn't take itself too seriously." He ended with saying how Gilbert "has a knack for fun, catchy melodies, and this record has those in spades." Reviewing the album for the Daily Breeze, Sam Gnerre said it was full of "dozen smartly crafted, energetically rendered slices of power-pop". Although the album "comes close on occasion to too-cutesy-for-its-own-good territory" it rebounds with "crisply executed, irresistible songs". Gav Lloyd of Rock Sound noted that the music may have been influenced by Candy Hearts. Lloyd commented that Gilbert's lyrics about "feeling pretty loved-up [...] [Is] something that could [have been] sickly" for lesser=known bands. They have "taken the form of a collection of songs as fun as they are lovely."

Track listing

1. "You're the Most" – 2:58
2. "Follow Her Around" – 1:58
3. "The Way She Loves Me" – 2:36
4. "Who Do You Love" – 2:27
5. "A Song About Girls" – 2:56
6. "Show Off" – 2:02
7. "Recurring Dreams" – 2:22
8. "From the Start" – 2:47
9. "Bad Mood" – 2:19
10. "Ain't Been Happy with Me" – 3:03
11. "Miserable Without You" – 3:36
12. "Wearing Your Ring" – 2:33