Review Summary: I’m falling in and out again.
I’m falling in and out again. Lying in bed with my earbuds choked around my neck; I can still hear the noise blaring out into the empty space. I can feel that fleeting sense of closure reverberate through the air as the last track plays itself out. The guitars work their magic, weaving throughout one another, until they die completely. Before I know it, the music has come to a close once more. I lay there in the silence. A few seconds pass, maybe minutes. The silence becomes deafening. That is the point where my fingers begin to fumble for the phone, to retreat back into “States and Minds”. The cycle repeats once more.
What can be said about The Story So Far’s debut album that hasn’t already been said? It’s immediate. It’s harsh. Not least of all, it’s catchy as all hell. This album just oozes youth. I’d wager that if you’d just listen to the first (very brief) track, your mind will be magically sent back to the days of college campuses and summer vacations. Indeed, there’s no better way to start an experience like this than with “States and Minds”. There’s no buildup, no foreplay. It invites itself in - nay, it goes ahead kicks the door down to get right up in your face. It’s deceptive in its simpleness as it begins to drag you by the collar of your shirt, straight into “Roam”. Thus begins a half hour journey into the world of sun, sweat, and shows.
I don’t know what about the album intrigues and interests me so much. No, that’s not right. I know all the parts that I keep coming back for, but I don’t know how they came to be. The kickoff in “Roam”. The outros of “Quicksand” and “Swords and Pens”. The absolutely god damn tasty riff taking ahold of the reins in “Mt. Diablo”. The sense of immediacy and arrangement hits like a ton of bricks. Maybe more like a dropkick. Nothing about
Under Soil and Dirt is lost or wandering. The instrumentation is tight and compact. Every note, every melody, every snare hit is meticulously placed for maximum effect. The little details are just waiting to be embraced, hidden behind the palpable pieces of music that expect you to listen to itself.
There’s just a whole refreshing kind of vibe going on here. The album captures the absolute pure energy of an actual show, bottles it, and shakes it back and forth to explode out of your speakers. You can almost feel the mosh pit beginning to form to your right, as you’re almost jumping over the person in front of you to get your fair share of shouting. Shouting is probably a great deal why the album is the way it is. Parker Cannon’s vocals shine in their natural environment. They refuse any song to be quiet, even for a moment. Even on ‘slower’ tracks like “Placeholder”, the intensity never really leaves the throat of Parker. It truly makes for a straight up fun romp.
Lyrics. Whew, boy. I’ll be the first to mention that Pop Punk lyrics are a very low tier when it comes to complexity. Let’s be honest here, however. If you’re listening to a Pop Punk record, you don’t really care about content, Whether it be about college, an ex, or forgotten friends, what matters most to you is how the words work with the song and if the hook is huge and catchy. The answer to those questions are: very and hell yes, respectively. The vocals intertwine with the guitars seamlessly, which intertwines with fast-as-hell and frantic drums, which in turn intertwines with the tight basslines. Everything about this album works well, extremely well.
Under Soil and Dirt is one of the most youthful and energizing albums of the decade. I defend that statement confidently. What The Story So Far did here was do everything exactly right and make a perfect record front to back. I mean these words with everything I have, hyperbole be damned. If you’re new to the genre, listen to this (it’s essential). If you’re indifferent to the genre, listen to this (I’d wager it has a great chance of winning you over). If you hate the genre with all your heart, listen to this (and have a nice day after ripping out your headphones and burning them). Go and listen to this record. It’s what I’ll be doing whenever I lay in bed with nothing else to do.
