Review Summary: Short and to the point, Spraynard’s debut is an impressive pop-punk album that stands out in the genre
'Cut and Paste', Pennsylvanian trio Spraynard’s first album, is comprised of eleven immensely catchy pop-punk tunes, full of memorable hooks, interchanging vocals and anthemic lines in a similar vein of Latterman, Get Bent, Iron Chic etc. that will have you shouting along after a listen or two. The album also possesses an unpolished, somewhat carefree quality to it that they seemed to refine slightly for their follow up album, 2011’s 'Funtitled'. With a running length of just over twenty minutes 'Cut and Paste' flies by but fortunately with no time wasted and nothing remotely resembling filler. Each song is focused, melodious, hard-hitting, and for the most part more straight-forward with less variation that’s more evident on their follow up. While 'Funtitled' may be the more mature and arguably better offering, I still find myself coming back to this one more. With the exception of
STR8TRPN which slows down the pace a notch and the album closer
Damn, Julie. Damn which includes a brief semi-interlude as the words “As the lights go down, we think of all the fun we had” are sung in a calm, rising momentum, the album retains an up-tempo atmosphere throughout.
The Z Sealed it for Me is a standout track, with memorable lines like “One more night alone is the last thing that we need because everything else is way too temporary” and the climactic shouting of “Keep holding on to everyone that makes us happy”, it has the ability to send chills down ones spine if listened to in the right context. Album opener
Sticking Together is What Good Waffles Do and
Same Cat, Different Results show Spraynard in top form, both prime examples of the energetic passion shining through in a mere couple minutes.
Lyrically 'Cut and Paste' touches upon searching and self-realization, nostalgia, friendships, home towns, trying to live to the fullest and remaining positive and grateful about life despite the hardships. It’s really an uplifting affair despite the somewhat serious undertone and Spraynard pulls it off with conviction and authenticity, with the words coming out with a direct urgency that’s both admirable and affecting. With sincere lines like “We’ve got to make the dreams we have at night part of our daytime reality” and “With every sunset we’re even closer to the day we die, but with every sunset we are thankful that we’re still alive” Spraynard offers a refreshing, optimistic outlook on things.
'Cut and Paste' is a quick but impressionable listen that, while not necessarily breaking any new ground, is very well put together. Incredibly solid is another adjective that comes to mind. It’s too bad they recently called it quits as it seems they were just reaching their peak with 'Funtitled', but at least they made some great music while they were together. I think if the album had some sort of literal take home message it would be to cherish the good times, they won’t last forever and I think I’ll use that to end this here off.
