Album Review: Sandbox by the All-American Rejects
Written by Shannon Dutra
In their first new release in 14 years, the All-American Rejects return to form with Sandbox while also ushering their sound in a new direction. Sandbox debuts some of their heaviest-sounding tracks and lyrics. While it won't resonate with all fans, this release mixes familiar-sounding songs with more experimental ones. When a band that’s been around for as long as the All-American Rejects has, experimentation is part of their trajectory. Music can’t stay the same forever, and neither can a band that put out its first studio album in 2002.
Sandbox is full of memorable refrains. The record opens with Easy Come, Easy Go, a fun surf rock track that explodes with guitars and catchy lyrics. The chorus also stands out: “Easy come, easy go / You only love me when I’m out of control / Easy come, easy go / You only love me when I’m out on the road.” It’s one of the album's most effective diss tracks—something that the band has mastered many times before.
Get This is an easy listen with a catchy chorus and grungy guitar: “So get this / I put you on my wishlist / I drew a star right by your name.” Get This works because it sounds exactly how one would expect the All-American Rejects to sound after so many years without new material; they have not forgotten where they came from. Get This also shows us that they’re not afraid to keep making music that sounds like 2002. Cheery tunes like this will never get tiring, and for longtime fans of this band, that’s part of the fun of this record.
Search Party! positions itself as an emotional diss track. “I brought the clown to your search party / And he’s even got balloons / Wearing my best suit, I got presents too / The only one missing is you.”
Eggshell Tap Dancer is a folksy, slow song. It’s also worth a listen because it’s filled with interesting arrangements and a rap near the intro.
The titular track also reminds listeners of the past. Sandbox also shows us how talented the All-American Rejects are. Tyson Ritter, the band’s lead singer, delivers a great bass line. Sandbox also works because it shows that the band can continue to craft passionate, nostalgic-sounding songs that still feel relevant in 2026. Sandbox hones this with its melancholic sound but takes it a step further, commenting on societal issues.
Near the midway point on the record is the hopeful King Kong. It sounds like summer, and this is one fans will keep going back to after the first listen. In the chorus, Ritter sings, “You’ll always be around to let me down.” It’s definitely a sister song of the ultra-popular Gives You Hell from 2008, and it’s wonderful to see the All-American Rejects keep up this signature sound that they have perfected over the years.
Lemonade is a drum-heavy track that feels self-deprecatory. The guitar solo at the end feels especially hard-hitting alongside the powerful lyrics and vocal distortion. The chorus is also powerful: “Lemonade and I was holding lemons / early grave that I would always digging.”
Near the end of Sandbox is the darker Staring Back at Me. It’s a song that questions the freedom one can feel and how someone’s mind can take over their life. Sometimes, it’s hard to feel in control, as these lyrics say, “How can I be free / With the sun staring back at me?”
At times, Sandbox does feel a little disjointed. The ordering of songs is a little off-putting, and some tracks jump around in tone and sound; however, there are familiar bright spots that will please new and existing listeners. While some may prefer the familiar sound, if the All-American Rejects are artists comfortable with experimenting and embracing new directions, they’re still a band worth following.
