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In an age where music is downloaded onto someone’s personal computer in a matter of seconds, a band’s reputation experiences a significant amount of volatility.

The popularity of a band and its future success can depend on the amount of time its music is played on an mp3 player.

With this in mind, it’s difficult to see why many bands are following old trends and creating types of music that merely exist as fads during any given year.

Although many groups follow paths of destiny and personal fullfillment, many seem to enter the popular music scene to gain fortune and glory.

However, today’s picky college and high school crowds increase the risk of band failure to an all-time high.

Boys Like Girls is just one of the many examples of a band that tends to slip through the cracks and create tunes thought to be long-gone in the emo rush of the late ’90s.

The Boston-based group, started in 2005, has received some attention as an opener for other small emo groups such as Cute is What we Aim For.

Unfortunately, though, the group does not seem to realize the uniqueness and style complexity needed to survive in today’s music world.

The band’s debut CD, released in August 2006, has also fallen under the radar of commerical music and for good reason. Before you decide on buying this one, keep in mind that you may not be getting anything new.

Like its emo and late ’90s punk predecessors, All-American Rejects and The Starting Line, Boys Like Girls brings out yet another set of tracks complaining about difficult, near-suicidal teenage years.

The agony never seems to go away with this band. Although I must admit, the group is talented and includes the harmonic vocals of singer Martin Johnson, but it really does not bring anything new to the modern music scene.

The first song on the CD, “The Great Escape,” is the story of the random escapades of two teenage lovers who feel the world just doesn’t understand their feelings for one another. Does this sound familiar? It should because it has been in just about every emo record in the last decade.

The guitar riffs, combined with excellent drumming does provide some relief to the whiny vocals and may please the high school crowd but lacks the maturity of modern bands.

Power chords and pop choruses are not enough to make it in today’s competition. “Five Minutes to Midnight” follows the opener with yet another power chord ballad.

The introduction combines a quick guitar melody with even more questionable vocals. Johnson proves his ability to see, but he lacks any difference from other emo and punk bands.

The same type of vocals can be found on an All-American Rejects CD anyday.

The band gets some credit for trying to create a unique track and apply their talent. Unfortunately, they just miss the mark.

The third track on the CD, “Hero/Heroin,” starts with a guitar riff and seems to break away from the previous power chord progressions.

Unfortunately, though, the vocals of Johnson bring the track back into whiny, depressed territory.

One positive aspect of the song, though, may be his vocal range. Some listeners should be pleased at how quickly Johnson can change tones. Few singers have this ability to sing high notes effectively.

“On Top of the World” continues to copy previous tracks. The structure includes a simple guitar riff during the introduction, followed by Johnson’s emo vocals moving into a chorus that fails to become anything but emotional.

There is only so much someone can take of the simple and lacking structure of each song.

Even more, Boys Like Girls includes an acoustic track, a habit that was started by bands in the late ’90s.

“Thunder” combines an acoustic guitar with an attempt at emotional lyrics. The result is nothing new.

Johnson sings of another lost love and the voice that continues to make him depressed.

“Me, You, and My Medication” has to be the only unique track on the entire CD. The song is actually a pleasing relief to the whiny lyrics found beforehand.

The introduction includes a few electronic effects that are actually enjoyable. The chorus is still rather ridiculous, but at least the band attempted to create a unique tone.

The tracks following are nothing new and are not even worth listening to.

Overall, listeners will find Boys Like Girls to be just another ’90s emo band. The group’s debut CD is definitely not worth buying unless emo nostalgia still remains.

Otherwise, there is better material out there. Don’t be suckered into amateur music.