Champs of chumps

With its debut Controversy Loves Company, The Audition garnered mild success as a simple, carbon copy of emo-scene brethren such as Fall Out Boy. \nBut now, armed with its aptly titled second record Champion and a whole lot of online buzz, the band is attempting to knock out some of its peers and become kings of the emo ring. To do so, The Audition has decided to draw inspiration from pop-oriented acts such as Maroon 5. It's a risky move that could alienate fans, especially considering the results are mixed. \nThe obvious improvement on Champion is the guitar work. On Controversy it was average, but on like tracks such as "Basbhat" and "Hell To Sell," the guitars are like a bouncy-ball thumping fast from wall to wall in a closed room. This new element reinforces the band's new sound and definitely makes you want to get up and move.\nControversy's best quality was the catchiness of its songs, and Champion has more of the same. "Edinboro," Champion's strongest track, is another foot-tapping jam with a soaring chorus. Vocalist Danny Stevens doesn't have much range, but he delivers somewhat laughable lines such as "Carry me like jet planes crossing the sea / Cabin pressure's high from body heat" with raw emotion.\nStevens' lack of vocal diversity combines with terribly corny lyrics and repetitive melodies to bog down Champion in the worst part: the chorus. The band sticks to a formula throughout -- aside from the surprisingly decent ballad "What Gets You Through The Night" -- and most of the album's songs have solid verses that turn into clunky choruses. The worst perpetrator is "Make It Rain," which includes the aforementioned guitar work until wannabe-Lothario lyrics such as "I'm moving in for the kill so sit still / You will be loving me until the morning" kick in.\nThe Audition should be commended for trying some new moves on Champion, but its inability to mold a new identity for itself doesn't allow it to deliver a punch to the scene. Until it figures it out, it'll be left on the mat as a challenger looking for a rematch.