Review Summary: Baby steps.
Daytrader's debut EP,
Last Days of Rome, was a great start for the band, but for as good as it was, it was quite a disjointed listen. Something about it never quite came together to form something that was cohesively their own, even though it hinted that they were more than capable to pull it off. Well,
Twelve Years, the first full length from the Long Island, NY based pop-punk act featuring former Crime in Stereo bassist Gary Cioni, finally sees Daytrader consolidating all of their best moments from their EP into something a little more solid and refined. There are no longer the stylistic gaps from song to song that, while entertaining in their own right, made
Last Days of Rome feel like a demo in approach rather than unified collection of songs. There's still the understated angst and simmer right beneath the surface and the dual vocal assault that makes it all burst like fireworks when it hits full steam, but the highs don't come quite as often as needed to make it fully engaging throughout. Even when considering its lulls in between the highs,
Twelve Years is a big step in the right direction for Daytrader. Given their pedigree and their position in the punk retooling of Rise Records a lot is expected from the band from the get go, but if they continue making diligent strides in the right direction, no matter how small, Daytrader's stock can only continue to climb.
Twelve Years might not put Daytrader on quite the same level as recent releases by labelmates Hot Water Music, Cheap Girls, and Sharks but they're well on their way.
