Review Summary: A surprising solid pop rock/pop punk album that provides a excellent starting point for the genre
New Zealand aren't a very big country in the music industry and many would say that it hasn't had it's fair share of good bands. Luckily for me, a couple of years back I heard of a band called Goodnight Nurse, who were often considered to be the New Zealand response to popular pop punk band Blink 182 .I went into this album with high expectations after remembering their first album. 'Always and Never'
At first listen of the opener Serpent Queen Part 2, I was surprised by how different the band sounded, The vocalist and guitar work were more produced but not too much so that it bothered me and the lyrics were much different compared to the original Serpent Queen that was seen on their first album. Serpent Queen's pt 2 chorus attempts to be catchy with and succeeds without it feeling like much effort, the guitar work and drumming are tight and the song instantly became a favorite, I then became eager to hear more of the new direction Goodnight Nurse were taking themselves in.
The follow up song 'The Night' Is a much more poppy song, but not in a bad way, it's guitar intro and bright sound makes it one of the best songs on the record
'Let me be there'
'Let me find out'
'Let these epic nights bring us to life, just until sunrise, we are the night'
This is an example of how simply written the songs on this album are, but I can guarantee, it gets stuck in your head easily and effortlessly.
The album isn't without it's slow songs, despite the next songs Details going for another easy to digest friendly pop-punk tune, the next song 'Hard To Watch You Go' is actually a more alternative song about letting go of that person you love, it's well written, soft and entertaining despite being the least fast or poppy song on the album.
There isn't much else to really say about the album, I'm not going by a track by track because in all honesty, most of the songs are all similar pop punk anthems and that's precisely what the band strive to do. There may be a few songs that are weaker then the others but as it stands 'Keep Me On Your Side' is a true example of the pop punk genre, it's fast, full of hooks, catchy, fun and occasionally honest. But as always the most surprising thing of all is that it is all done by a NZ band.
