Calling the World

Rooney | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 17, 2007)
• Original Release Date: July 27, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Geffen Records
• ASIN: B000R7I38W
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #49,622 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Rooney's second CD, Calling the World, contains a first single--"When Did Your Heart Go Missing?"--that starts out with a guitar riff so familiar, you swear that it must be a cover tune. By the chorus, however, the old-school, Wham-sounding melody (with frontman Robert Schwartzman emulating an early-day George Michael) reminds you that this is familiar just because it is simple, straight-up pop-n-roll. "I Should've Been After You" is a catchy little ditty that shows the extent of their love for '60s British invasion pop, albeit with a hefty dose of Robbie Williams-esque open-throated melodies on the side. Rooney's music--and even their cover art--tends to hearken '60s bands such as The Monkees and Herman's Hermits in terms of their sugar-sweetness, while "Paralyzed" and "All In Your Head" changes things up a bit with a nu-wave Cars sound. Like sugar, the disc might provide occasional moments of elation, but much of their music ("Calling the World", "Tell Me Soon", "Love Me or Leave Me") lacks the proverbial protein to sustain serious listeners for more than just a few pleasant minutes. --Denise Sheppard

Product Description

Rooney is: Ned Brower - Drums, backing vocals Taylor Locke - Guitars, backing vocals Robert Schwartzman - Vocals, Guitar Louie Stevens - Keyboards Matthew Winter -- Bass

Their second album "Calling The World" - a pop-rock manifesto and contribution to the rock-pop body of work initiated by The Beatles and The Beach Boys and propagated by subsequent groups such as Queen, E.L.O., Cheap Trick, The Cars, Jellyfish and Weezer.

Lead singer Robert Schwartzman wrote all of the songs on "Calling the World" after searching for a sound that would at once rock and "also make people dance."

The first single from "Calling the World" is "When Did Your Heart Go Missing?" - an effervescent head-bobber with an infectious chorus. The colorful video was shot in various locations in Los Angeles by noted director Benny Boom (50 Cent, Missy Elliot) and depicts a day in the California life of Rooney, complete with afternoon wake-up, beach bar-b-q house party, classic car Hollywood cruise and late-night Silver Lake club romp.

Other songs from the album include the mini-rock opera "I Should Have Been After You," "Believe In Me," a driving synth-propelled call for a leap of faith, "What For" a breezy and melodic slice of friendly advice, and "Help Me Find My Way," a poignant ode to Robert's late father.

Producer John Fields (Andrew W.K., Switchfoot) recorded "Calling The World" with Rooney in Los Angeles by harnessing the band's expert musicianship via live takes and extemporaneous improvisations, at times even using a laptop to capture the urgency of the moment. "Rooney" sold 400,000 albums of their debut and toured extensively across the United States and Europe. The members of Rooney recently hosted a Monday-night residency at Los Angeles' renown Roxy nightclub during the entire month of April 2007 so they could play their new "Calling the World" material for their loyal, hometown fans first. They were joined on stage by friends to perform covers including Phantom Planet, The Donnas, The Chapin Sisters, Ben Lee, Susana Hoffs (who performed Walk Like An Egyptian with the band), and Cherrytree Records label mates The Feeling.

Rooney released their eponymous, debut album in 2002 when the median age of the band was 19 years old.

Rooney is a favorite of other bands who are constantly asking to hit the road with them. They've toured with Weezer, The Strokes, All American Rejects, Travis, Pete Yorn. In May 2007, Rooney embark on a club tour of the UK and Continental Europe and return to the US for a national tour as opening act for Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Woah, sooooo worth the wait!!! A powerpop masterpiece!!, July 17, 2007

By	Larry Davis "powerpoplarry" (NYC/Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews

Seriously, it really is. I don't mince words or throw away terms like that without sincerely meaning it. When I heard that Rooney (the LA quintet named after the hilariously inept principal in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"), scrapped 2 albums and took 4 years to follow up their great 2003 debut, I was slightly worried...who wouldn't be??? But, upon hearing their new 2007 release "Calling The World", all my worries were tossed aside...it's REALLY great...all 12 tunes are gems...with great melodies, harmonies, arrangements, guitar riffs, the works...even a mini-rock-opera!!! Tunefulness is tops here, and whether this record appeals to the O.C. fans they acquired with the debut, it's secondary to the melodic waterworks in evidence here.

Wow, this is really a great record...definitely a contender for best powerpop album of 2007...if not best album overall, definitely top 10.

No shortage of highlights here...from the danceable first single "Where Did Your Heart Go Missing", to the catchy, pining "Should Have Been After You", where singer/guitarist/brother of actor Jason Schwartzman, Robert Schwartzman regrets going after a gal pal who keeps setting him up with her girlfriends who are not as worthy...to the AMAZING "Paralyzed"...I recall loving this song when they did a free concert in NYC back in 2005...and the string-laden, epic ballad "Help Me Find My Way", the catchy opening title track, the mini-opera "Are You Afraid??" All songs here are great, and that could be the problem...finding a focus track as a single...but that doesn't matter, as it's such a great record overall.

As for the scrapped 2 albums...perhaps those songs will find their way through the underground and onto bootlegs...most scrapped albums and songs by great powerpop bands such as Rooney are just as good and an interesting listen...I'd love to hear those tunes.

Again, the wait was really worth it. And, cool, I'm the first reviewer here, aces!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rooney - Calling the World, August 14, 2007

By	T. Snyder "TS" (AZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm not sure why Rooney gets slept on so much. They're very under-the-radar. Fans of the Maroon 5 album should be all over "Calling the World".

This album is what I consider a perfect summer album. Lighter breezier pop/rock songs. Lots of catchy choruses without being cheesey. The songs are short and to-the-point; this isn't an overly drawn-out, bloated affair.

I like that the songs are bouncy with good beats/tempos - no real downers here. And you can't beat the price: I assume the low price is intended to draw in new fans, not scare people away that it's cheap for a reason.

Really, I'm surprised as to why these guys don't get more publicity. If you could choose a soundtrack for a perfect California summer, this would be the album.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars maybe the world should just hang up, August 21, 2007

By	Haley - See all my reviews

Many of the other customers have reviewed this album just as good as Rooney's self titled debut. I really disagree - I preferred many of their older songs because they were more raw and powerful. This album is heavily orchestrated and what I loved most about Rooney on their first album, the wicked guitar riffs and less polished vocals, is completely missing from "Calling the World." Also, many of the lyrics are somewhat cringeworthy and a bit immature. That isn't to say there aren't any good songs on here: Calling the World, When Did Your Heart Go Missing?, Paralyzed and Love Me or Leave Me are all fairly excellent songs and extremely catchy, but I feel overall this album is too much of a departure from the band's original sound, and what I liked most about them from the beginning. For first time listeners of Rooney, I would definitely reccomend their first album. For returning fans, I would have to say that this album might be better off overlooked.