Robyn Writes

Review: Dearist – Get What You Want [7″]

Dearist is the new project from Kyoto Drive’s singer and bassist, Adam Binder. Do not let that sentence instil you with fear – Get What You Want is no superficial, throwaway pop-rock record. Instead, it’s two tracks of soaring, atmospheric goodness, more akin to alt-rock titans Anberlin or 30 Seconds To Mars (when they’re having a good day). Indeed, Get What You Want is a promising debut and could be the beginning of something very exciting.

The eponymous track immediately signals a massive break from Kyoto Drive’s previous style. Downtuned riffs and a storming verse take precedence over saccharine guitar lines, the lyrics aren’t just about girls any more and the choruses reach new, anthemic heights. Dearist have hit on a totally massive sound, and it’s not all smoke and mirrors either – there’s a few cool effects coming into play here and there, but most of it is just through crafting straight up rock stompers. ‘Just Let Me Know (All Over Yet)’ continues along the same road as its predecessor, but introduces some beautiful piano to the mix. It’s not the lead single, but it’s the stronger of the two tracks; it perhaps lacks the immediate punch of ‘Get What You Want’ but instead, playful riffs abound throughout the verses and Binder’s breathy vocals float gently over a chorus that builds and builds into a fantastic mid-section that Jared Leto would be proud of.

Get What You Want is an intriguing debut and hopefully, a sign of things to come. I for one am awaiting Dearist’s forthcoming full-length with genuine excitement – July can’t come soon enough.

4 out of 5 high fives!

Top 10 Songs of Spring

Forget the Saharan sand and the air pollution, spring is here! It’s like summer’s support act – not quite the big deal, but not bad all the same. Most of the time, anyway. So, my music taste tends to change with the season; my horrorpunk has (for the most part) been set aside for darker times, and I’m ready to approach something fresher. Here’s a bunch of songs that are the perfect lead-in to happy spring days.

10) Against Me – Transgender Dysphoria Blues
I haven’t been able to stop listening to this record since January, but the eponymous track on Against Me!’s storming sixth album is the most fantastic wake-up call. Laura Jane Grace has got some heavy shit to tell us, and she’s going to do it in style.

9) Asian Kung-Fu Generation – Rewrite
This was the opening track to a season of FullMetal Alchemist, which I totally burned through during an Easter holiday back in high school. But it’s easy to see why songs like these get chosen to lead in a story that’s as much about adventuring as it is about kicking demonic ass – because they’re really, really catchy.

8) Blink 182 – Aliens Exist
Enema of the State. What an album. Blink 182 usually makes it onto my summer playlists rather than my spring, but ‘Aliens Exist’ has just a touch of desolate paranoia that I can’t help but adore. Also, the Tom, Mark and Travis Show version is beyond perfect.

7) Eisley – Drink The Water
It’s impossible to listen to an Eisley album without falling into some state of perfect bliss. Every track is beautiful, and ‘Drink The Water’ from Currents is no exception. All of their songs are like fairy tales, and if you’ve never tuned in before, go right ahead and be amazed.

6) Fall Out Boy – Just One Yesterday
Save Rock And Roll is full of great vocal lines, but this song takes the chocolate-smothered cake with cherry on top. The guest vocals from Foxes are just sublime. Roll down the windows and belt it out down country roads for maximum effect.

5) Fidlar – West Coast
Surf-punk is one of my favourite things in existence, and by extension, Fidlar are pretty high up on that list. ‘West Coast’ is a massive song, totally singable and Henry Rollins makes a cheeky appearance in the video for no apparent reason.

4) Kevin Devine – Just Stay
Possibly my favourite Kevin Devine song, ‘Just Stay’ is a beautiful mix of country sensibilities and second-wave emo feelings. Simultaneously uplifting and crushing, just like spring tends to be with sunshine and showers.

3) Northstar – Like AM Radio
Who doesn’t love a bit of 2004 emo from Alabama that sounds like it should have come out of Long Island? I don’t know anyone, that’s for sure. Pollyanna is still a great record, and ‘Like AM Radio’ is its crowning jewel.

2) Allison Weiss – One Way Love
Allison Weiss is 100% adorable, 100% awesome and one hell of a talented songwriter. And I think that’s all I need to say: listen to the track and discover for yourself.

1) Andrew McMahon – Synesthesia
Andrew’s solo tour last year was incredible, and so was The Pop Underground, his first solo EP. Jack’s Mannequin doesn’t really count. If you like soft synths, sweet piano and Andrew’s dulcet tones (who doesn’t?), then this record is a must.

Review: Tussk – Par T. Animal [EP]

Par T. Animal is a bit of an odd beast. The forthcoming two-track EP from Stoke-on-Trent rockers Tussk is one part Every Time I Die, one part Pantera and two parts heavy metal cheese. It’s loud and it’s proud, with plenty of over-the-top guitar solos and cheesy lyrics, backed by some hardcore growls and cheeky breakdowns. The question is, does this weird mix actually work?

For the most part, yeah, pretty much. ‘Jazz Hammer’ starts the EP off with a bang, with that southern rock swagger kicking in straight from the off and some great shouty vocals, but then it all goes a bit Aerosmith and the vocals get seriously hair metal. It’s a really strange combination, and at first, it doesn’t seem to blend. However, as you get into the EP, it makes a pleasant change to constant growls, but there needs to be more of a balance between the two sides. Playing off that darkness and light could work really well for Tussk with some polish. There’s some absolutely storming guitar solos present throughout, but they’re partially ruined by poor production – the mix just isn’t right, leaving the drums too overpowering and the guitars too fuzzy. ‘Double Drag Queen’ doesn’t have quite as much impact as ‘Jazz Hammer’ at first, but it builds to a great chorus and if you listen carefully, you can pick out loads of fantastic licks and fills as it goes on. However, both tracks feel quite disjointed in places, as if they’re trying to cram as many badass elements into a track at once, and while it does make a difference not to hear the same hardcore song structure put in place all over again, Tussk could do with just a little more precision in their writing.

Par T. Animal definitely revels in that rock and roll spirit, and to be fair, all of the elements are there – it just needs a little more focus and some better production. Tussk have certainly got style and determination, and a healthy appreciation for partying hard; that’s what’s going to see them through in the end.

2.5 out of 5 high fives!

Review: As It Is – This Mind Of Mine [EP]

The third EP from transatlantic pop-punk lot As It Is, This Mind Of Mine was a crowdfunded effort. The band are no stranger to self-releases, but after putting their ideas onto Kickstarter, received a wave of support that they hadn’t previously anticipated and put it all into crafting these four tracks. Does This Mind Of Mine stand up as worthy of that support?

To the band’s ever-growing fanbase, probably yes. It’s a standard pop-punk record; lots of bounce, plenty of emotion, cheeky lyrics. And it does work – the dual vocal approach of British guitarist/vocalist Benjamin Biss and Minnesotan Patty Walters lends itself to quite a distinctive sound, even if, in truth, nothing else about the record really does. Opener ‘Bitter Broken Me’ proceeds to tick all the boxes – it’s well-produced, with some playful riffs and that distinctive vocal split. ‘Horoscopes’ carries on this trend, but with some good woahs in the chorus and some decent bass. ‘Can’t Save Myself’ has a really explosive chorus, and ‘Relive This Story’ is your typical slow-burner, with more than just a hint of influence from Taking Back Sunday. It’s all good, well-structured and poised to meet your expectations – it sadly just doesn’t smash them.

However, As It Is do stand apart on one aspect – their lyrics. There’s a gleeful honesty that abounds throughout This Mind Of Mine, tackling personal demons and difficult topics. It’s not your typical mush about girls, and at times, it’s very clever indeed. In ‘Can’t Save Myself’, there’s this fantastic bit in the verse that goes “And as I’ve aged the only thing I think has changed / is that the demons have moved from under my bed / into the inner depths of my head,” and that’s merely one such gem. Given time, As It Is may well have the lyrical prowess to challenge verbose pop-punk predecessors like Fall Out Boy.

The issue is that As It Is haven’t really had time to grow – rather than focusing on EPs, their next effort should be a debut full-length, which will give them the opportunity to develop a few of the aspects here and experiment a little more. With every step forward, As It Is reveal themselves as a band with promise – the final product’s just not quite there yet.

3 out of 5 high fives!

Review: Above The Underground – Sonder

You wouldn’t believe the amount of pop-punk that passes through my inbox. From all corners of the world, I’m assaulted by a ton of bands that still manage to sound exactly the same. Which is why it’s always a real pleasure when something that stands head and shoulders above the rest manages to slip through – and that’s exactly what Above The Underground have done with Sonder.

In our review of Autumns, we noted that these guys had plenty of potential, but with the release of their debut LP, Above The Underground have managed to seriously up their game. Sonder is an absolute joy to listen to, and it’s fantastic to see just how far the band have progressed. The album’s structure is a lot more coherent, the songwriting is much stronger, and all in all, Above The Underground have managed to nail ten solid bangers, none of which will leave you disappointed.

The first half of the album is a bit more of your straight forward pop-punk fare, and it starts with the short, acoustic ‘Prologue’ before launching into ‘Return To Point Pleasant’, which demonstrates some great dual vocal work in the chorus. Although virtually all pop-punk is inspired by our friends from across the Atlantic, Above The Underground do a great job of not giving into the nasally vocals and cookie-cutter riffs; there’s plenty of sunshine, but with a little more bite. ‘Lavender Town Syndrome’ doesn’t do much to reinvent the wheel, but it’s easy listening; perfect for an afternoon drive with the sunroof cranked open and some proper posi lyrics to propel you along. Lyrically, the album is just as strong as than Autumns, if not stronger – each track is its own emotional journey, and embodies the confusion and excitement of youth in a deft and intelligent way.

But midway through, the album, and the band, begins to reach a turning point with ‘Cheer Up’ – a slow burning instrumental, reminiscent of that Northstar or Inkwell style, which rings out beautifully before becoming a launchpad for ‘Not Home’. Potentially the best track on the record, ‘Not Home’ is an aural assault of minor chords and perfectly timed palm mutes. ‘Shine’ is a beautiful acoustic ballad, melancholy yet uplifting. Although it’s much of the same, ‘Bring Me The Sun’ has some stellar woah’s in the chorus, before end track ‘Reprise’ hits like a freight train. Eschewing gang shouts in favour of a proper gang verse, the band show their skills off loud and proud and leave you ready to hit repeat.

Above The Underground have really proven themselves with Sonder. Will it be hard for them to replicate? Only time will tell, but for now, Sonder is a truly exciting record.

4.5 out of 5 high fives!