Review Summary: Simple and fun at heart
Teenage Bottlerocket is a band that is very good at bringing out the fun in simplicity. Their debut,
Another Way, showcases their talent moderately well, bringing catchy jams at rapid fire pace. The instrumentation is elementary, following the classic pop-punk power chord setup, but the execution is what makes it shine. The energetic, fun-loving vibe found on this record makes it perfectly overflow with a carefree, cool headed attitude that makes it all the more fun to listen to.
Tracks such as “Be Stag” and “Another Way” summarizes the album with their upbeat, carefree attitudes, giving the record it’s fresh sound. The vocals are rough, the hooks are memorable, and the guitars are crunchy. The guitar lead on “Another Way” is worth mentioning for its ability to catch the listener’s attention, forcing them to sit and listen to the song the whole way through, enjoying its overwhelmingly fun nature. Nearly every song has this poppy effect, however this can lead to the album’s biggest issue: not much sticks out.
A good chunk of the middle portion of this album is a blur, essentially, with each track melting into each other and being unmemorable. There’s not many stand-out tracks from this album, for each track follows the same set of “rules” as the others. There are also the use of uninspired songs that can ruin the listening experience, too, such as “Rathead”, a dull number that makes the listener want to take a nap rather than to keep listening.
In the end,
Another Way is a simple, fun-at-heart pop-punk album that can make for a really good and short listen. Even though many songs sound the same, it doesn't change the fact that it is a well-rounded effort by the band. If you’re looking for something to listen to on summer time bike rides or something along the lines, I would definitely recommend this album.
