Review Summary: Our conversation never quite said it.
In 2007, a small band from Arkansas called
PMToday released their first full length album,
And Then The Hurricane. Unbeknownst to those who live outside the Midwest, Their debut features everything that a fan of pop-punk could want: strong, catchy vocals and lyrics, thoughtful songwriting, moderate technical skill, and a knack for hooks. Even without a record contract, PMToday has managed to tour the Midwest several times over and gain a large following.
And Then The Hurricane can be sorted into two song styles. There is the more indie leaning pop-punk songs, with effect-driven instrumentation, and well placed layering of guitar tracks to create an atmospheric tone, and the post-hardcore pop-punk songs, featuring more metal-tinged riffs and a faster pace. Album opener “Celebration” is of the former, with a slowly building guitar motif and lyrics mourning the passing of youth. It sets up the album well, working as a soft and introspective introduction.
On the album, vocal duties are shared by brothers Connor, Ryan, and Cuinn Brogan, and each has their specialties. Cuinn, who sings the majority of the soft songs as well as drums, has the least powerful voice, singing softly in a low register that compliments a quieter atmosphere. On the more fast paced tracks, dual guitarists/singers Connor and Ryan belt the lyrics in a very high register. They remind me of a young Anthony Green or a more tonally aware Craig Owens, especially when Connor moves into a high yell, rather than singing. On second track and first single “Doctor!,” Connor puts forth a truly powerful vocal performance, even moving into a small scream in the first chorus. “Doctor!” is probably the most straightforward and catchy songs on the record, full to the brim with vocal hooks. It is also the closest PMToday come to metal, with frequent guitar leads and a small amount of low register chugging.
The only true misstep throughout the album is “The Side Effects Of…” With a repetitive guitar hook and one line of lyrics repeated ad nauseum, it simply does not work. Unsurprisingly, it is also the only softer song on the album to feature Connor and Ryan doing vocals.
The lyrics on
And Then The Hurricane are also filled with gems. Unhampered by the awkwardly wordy metaphors of their early EP, PMToday employ simple, relatable analogies to get their ideas across. Most songs deal, in an abstract way (think Saosin-era Anthony Green, but less cryptic), with relationships or the life of a touring band. More than the lyrics, it is the vocal performance that makes these songs great, as the brothers combined range is magnificent, and the traded lines of Ryan and Connor make them able to say more in a smaller amount of time. The only time the vocals fall is when full on screaming is attempted, like in “Farewell the Ultimatum”. Truly, none of these guys can scream. At all. It is painful to listen to, but thankfully they use them extremely sparingly.
Other standouts succeed on the merits of either catchy hooks or appealing lyrics. In the title track, “Falling In Spite Of Everything”, and “This Disease”, the chorus really pulls you in and leaves you begging for more. A real positive of the album comes from its songwriting maturity, there is never a chorus repeated (barring “The Side Effects Of…”) so many times that it overstays its welcome, nor a verse that runs too long. Apart from the occasional lyrical misstep (“The Side Effects Of…”) PMToday have perfected their song style, and show wisdom beyond their years.
