Review Summary: I've been doing fine
Especially in the genre of pop punk, many bands have a recognisable song specific to their sound. In the blandish definition of fusing punk rhythms with pop melodies. Just to give a few examples. Fenix TX has Threesome, Midtown have Like A Movie and it could be argued New Found Glory's My Friends Over You represents the best of these bands talents. If that is the case then Audio Karate's Nintendo 89 has the jaunty rhythms and exuberant pleas that showcase the bands greatest talents in under 4 minutes. Youth trapped in the lost and found.
One song and one song only can make a band memorable for all the wrong reasons. To draw less attention from the catalogue of those explicitly mentioned and aim a spotlight at a radio hit does no favours. Neither does my fascination with Nintendo 89. The greatest compliment for Space Camp is that the musicianship is on a whole different level to many of its peers. The riffs and licks have a fervent summer vibe. This is accentuated by the surf rock tone with the guitars. For a debut album the band have already honed their craft.
Certain tracks like Halfway Decent and One Day have staccato bounces and flavourful solos that are a definite highlight. The attention to variation in the song crafting keeps the flow of the record fresh. Whilst the first few tracks are a typical pop punk vibe the complexity branches out later becoming more hard hitting.
The vocals can be whiny and the lyrical matter is akin to a teenager ripping apart their diary in a fit of rage. The benign apologies and call outs to lovesick comforts are irritating. Yet at the same time these candid views offer an enticing look back to past yesteryears. Gaming, Graduation, Break-Ups. The soundtrack to a summer. An advent of opportunity. Staring at the sun, I lose myself in Space Camp.
