Controversy Loves Company is the debut studio album by American rock band the Audition, released on September 20, 2005 through Victory Records.

With Danny Stevens moving from guitarist to vocalist, the band spent three months writing material, until they recorded their debut album in April 2005.

Controversy Loves Company is a pop-punk album that drew comparison to the work of Fall Out Boy, Hot Rod Circuit, and Taking Back Sunday.

The Audition formed in February 2002 in Elmhurst, Illinois, with a line-up consisting of vocalist Evo Soria, guitarists Bob Morris and Dan Lucking, bassist Joe Lussa, and drummer Ryan O'Connor.

[1][2] They recorded a demo and starting gigging alongside other Chicago-born bands, such as the Academy Is...[1] In September 2003, Lucking was replaced by Pat Finella.

[2][3] In March and April 2004, the band played a handful of shows around Illinois;[4][5] In May 2004, they released their debut EP, It's All In Your Head through local label 13th Floor Records, which was promoted with a summer tour throughout June and July 2004.

[7] They wrote new material and played further shows until a month later, when Soria wished to return to education, at which point, Stevens moved to vocals.

[7] Las Vegas Weekly writer Julie Seabaugh described the music on Controversy Loves Company as "energetic pop-punk with a dance-happy edge", with lyrical themes revolving around living on the road, teenage angst, and girls.

[15][8] The introduction to "Don't Be So Hard" evoked the sound of Jack's Mannequin, while the rest of it was recalled of the work of the Academy Is...[14][8] Its chorus section is sung as a conversation between two lovers.

[23][24] In January 2006, the group went on tour with June, Small Towns Burn a Little Slower and Forgive Durden,[25] before playing three shows later in the month with Ever We Fall.

[26] The Audition embarked on a West Coast trek with Mae and Lovedrug through to March 2006, which was followed by a week-long tour with Aiden and Thirty Seconds to Mars.

[35] Melodic writer Kaj Roth explained that he was a "truly a sucker for energetic rock like this album," acknowledging that the band's music was "hardly groundbreaking but this 5 piece sure can write catchy songs that will make any punkpop fan stomp their feet".

[15] Punktastic founder Paul Savage wrote that it was not the "best record of the year – in places it’s a bit dull and predictable – but on the whole it’s an exciting listen with plenty of good songs".

[16] AllMusic reviewer Johnny Loftus said the band "make all the right moves" with the album, as the tracks are "compact dynamos of emo[tional] urgency, and every single triumphant break or righteous gang vocal moment can be anticipated at least a measure before it arrives".