It's been two years since the 2006 release of As Cruel As School Children and the Gym Class Heroes have returned, bigger and better. The Quilt is the fourth studio album from the band, and it is an excellent showcase of their progression as musicians. This album represents musical styles varying from hip hop to gospel, from reggae to rock, showing that this is definitely from what they have previously released and their back with a brand new feel.

The albums starts off with the jazzy "Guilty as Charged" whose horns and female backing vocals give it the feel of a 50s R&B song. It then transitions into a song called "Drnk Txt Rmeo" and the feel of the song does a big turn around and proves itself as the first real hip hop song on the album.

A fantastic choice of a single, "Peace Sign/Index Down" has a hook you'll be hearing echoed at shows for years to come and keeps the hip hop feel introduced in Drnk Txt Rmeo". The second single, "Cookie Jar" is another definite hit, definitely going to be stuck in your head whether you agree with the message or not.

Adding yet another patch to the quilt of musical variation that makes up the album, the Gym Class Heroes also give a first look at their sensitive side. Songs such as "Like Father, Like son" and "Live Forever (Fly with Me)" are touching, with their sentimental lyrics and use of piano. At the times Travis' voice is completely absent, he's replaced by The Dream, whose vocals add to the overwhelming nature of the sensitive songs.

The transition between songs, going from each style shows you the metaphor that Gym Class Heroes seem to set for this album. With each song, the Gym Class Heroes show a different style, a different design, a different patch to make up The Quilt.

reviewed by Allyson