Page 41 - Black Velvet Issue 91

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YYYYY Excellent YYYY Very Good YYY Good
YY Listenable, Just Y Poor

the waist down). Another ing’, also the first single re- This is continued into It’s Ever Gonna Work Out’
fun turn in the album is the leased from this EP, gives ‘Dreamland Ain’t All It’s leading into ‘Don’t Be A
gentle acoustic track 'I'm A a great first impression of Cracked Up To Be’, which Dick’, which is an angst-rid-
Wrecking Ball', giving lis- this band, with the dual vo- is sure to be stuck in your den song with a killer guitar
teners a more calming calists being used to great head for days on end. A solo and just an all-round
presence on the record effect and the catchy hook heaver approach is taken great track. The final two
and is a nice break be- ensuring people keep lis- in ‘Forty Eight’, which does songs see an acoustic ap-
tween the 10 tracks. How- tening. This familiar catchy give the EP a new angle proach in the beginning of
ever, it's the final track, sound is carried through and pushes the boundaries ‘As Happy As Happy Gets’.
their swan song, that gives into ‘Florida’, while ‘Forever of what this band is capa- This is taken even further
the album the best send- Sick’ keeps you listening to ble of. Closing track in the final number ‘Drinkin’
YELLOWCARD off. 'Fields & Fences' is the record, despite the vo- ‘Lowhill Lane’ sees a return Beer On A Sunday’ which
YELLOWCARD packed full of everything cals sometimes getting lost to the typical pop punk adds a country vibe and is
(HOPELESS) you'd expect from the in the music. ‘What Matters style we know and love a great, relaxing track to
It's hard to believe after band, from Key's sweet, Most’ gives fans something from Better Than Never end on. Overall, ‘Drunk Dy-
19 years and 10 albums yet strong vocals, Mendez a little different with the ad- and makes a great closer nasty’ is a collection of
that Yellowcard, who have and Mackin's solid riff work, dition of a ‘talking’ intro to this EP. Overall, ‘Head classic pop punk songs
played a prominent role in Josh Portman's booming which works quite well with Under Water’ is very well which Bowling For Soup do
the mainstream success of bass lines, and Nate the song. It is quite a done and if this is any sign best and results in a solid
pop punk, are calling it a Young's powerful drum melodic track with a good of things to come then any album and return for the
day. However, they're far ending. Out of all the songs bridge, securing the band’s fan of pop punk should get band.
from leaving fans empty- on 'Yellowcard', it's safe to pop punk sound, making it very excited. YYYY
handed. Their self-titled, say that this is the song the perfect track to get YYYY Becky Simpson
fourth and final record from you'll need tissues for. stuck in your head. Final Becky Simpson
Hopeless Records, after Lyrics like 'I want to start song, the melodic ‘Nothing YOU KNOW THE DRILL
reuniting with the label in living/I want to be brave/I But Net’ is a good closer to LOSING STREAK
February, is an emotional want to find where I belong' the album with the ability to (SCYLLA)
send-off that will leave you and 'I don't have much that get people dancing along, You Know The Drill's
feeling both happy and I can give to you/But I know even if they’ve never heard debut EP 'Losing Streak' is
melancholy. Opening track I love the way you make of this band before. As The everything you'd expect
'Rest In Peace' is a song me feel like I'm at Sun Sleeps are definitely from a pop punk band.
that feels like you're on a home/And I am not alone' on the right path and this From upbeat chord pro-
journey into the life of the will leave you feeling EP is a sign of bigger and gressions to relatable lyrics
band, which is hinted at breathless, while Mackin's better things to come. to lift you up when you feel
throughout the song’s violin work in the final YYYY kicked down, the five tracks
lyrics, especially the chorus minute of the song could Becky Simpson from the five men of Birm-
('If this was the last time make anyone weep. While BOWLING FOR SOUP ingham will not leave you
that we would ever Yellowcard have changed DRUNK DYNASTY unimpressed. Songs such
speak/Could we forgive their sound over their last (QUE-SO/BRANDO) as 'Peer Pressure' and
somehow?/Could we let it five records, this time it's Back with their 11th 'Less Than You' touch on
rest in peace?'). While it's not whether you consider album, Texan pop punkers the subject of heartbreak,
not your typical happy- them alternative rock or Bowling For Soup release whereas 'Heads Up' and
sounding song, Sean pop punk that matters. 'Yel- their first new music in '411' deal with growing up
Mackin's signature violin lowcard' gives you both el- three years. This album in- and life not going as
melodies and Ryan ements in one powerful corporates the Bowling For planned. 'Repose', how-
Mendez's ripping guitar ending. It gives old school Soup sound that we have ever, takes a different route
solo make the emotional fans a taste of a sound they come to know and love that reveals a more raw,
impact feel more special were once familiar with and over the past 22 years, with emotional side of vocalist
than just sad and bland. newer fans a side that they BETTER THAN NEVER tracks like ‘She Used To Be Benji Yapp, which can be
'What Appears' and 'Leave may not have experienced HEAD UNDER WATER Mine’ and ‘Shit To Do’ an- heard through the raspy,
A Light On' takes on the in the band's early days. It (FOX) nouncing the return of this yet melodic lyrics (such as
same approach that shows also shows that the band Pop punk has been brilliant band. ‘Hey Diane’ 'Even in your last days, you
a more mature band that who wanted to give their making a comeback in the is a track sure to get you up made my life much better').
doesn't hold back from fans an album with a grand UK, and one band which on your feet with an upbeat Along with the upbeat,
showing how they feel. The finale and memories that has definitely been making tempo and lyrics which run high-energized music from
album does takes a fun, will never die out did it in the most of this is Better around your head for days guitarists Jim McCormack
fast paced approach with the most perfect way. Once Than Never. Hailing from on end. The somewhat an- and Luke Astley, bassist
'Got Yours' and 'Savior's again, the guys from Jack- Oxford, the sextet combine grier-sounding ‘Go To Bed Damo Darby and drummer
Robes' that gives you a sonville, Florida did not dis- triple-stacked guitars with Mad’ works well and offers Brad Potter, Yapp provides
classic 2006 'Lights And appoint. catchy melodies to create a the typical Bowling For listeners with a look at the
Sounds' feel while digging YYYYY unique sound which will al- Soup humour in the bridge 'demons inside' and an
into their hardcore punk Jessica-Lyn Saunders most certainly turn them which is always a good ad- overall perfect setting for
roots heard on 1999's into many people’s dition to the album. The the cold seasons. Their
'Where We Stand'. How- AS THE SUN SLEEPS favourite band. Their latest band takes a slower ap- sound could be compared
ever, we're led back into AS GOOD AS GOLD EP ‘Head Under Water’ proach with ‘Catalyst’ and to that of The Wonder
songs like 'A Place We Set (AS THE SUN SLEEPS) demonstrates the band’s to great effect as it com- Years, Like Pacific, or
Afire' and 'The Hurt Is As The Sun Sleeps are pop punk roots with ‘126’ bines the pop punk style Major League, but even
Gone' which reminds us of a pop punk quartet from giving a taste of the EP be- we are so accustomed to then, You Know The Drill
the band's history over the Swindon who are slowly fore its even begun and let- with almost ballad-like provide their own unique
last few years (such as making a name for them- ting fans know that they are melodies which will get style that makes 'Losing
Mackin's recovery from selves in the music world. in for a treat. Lead single everyone in the room Streak' that more interest-
thyroid cancer and vocalist Their latest EP, ‘As Good ‘Learning To Swim’ offers singing along. The album ing and addictive.
Ryan Key's wife suffering As Gold’, is a must-have up punchy lyrics which continues with the pop YYYY
from a broken back that for all fans of pop punk. make full use of the dual punk, guitar-heavy sound Jessica-Lyn Saunders
has left her paralysed from The opening track ‘Beer- vocalists to great effect. in ‘She Doesn’t Think That
ALBUMS