Tree River – “Earthside”
-I love a good power chord to open a song… but then when you follow it with a moving rhythm and powerful vocal, it’s definitely going to catch my interest. The easy comp for Tree River is the early 2000s blitz of pop punk artists like Blink 182 and Sum41. The vocal is a bit smoother than most of the punk vocals from that era, but it certainly has the hard hitting guitars that define the genre. The lyrics focus on the importance of staying grounded to be supportive of your partner. The message is positive with a feel-good musical structure. It feels like the angsty pop punk of the early 2000s grown into a more mature lyrical concept.
Boy Bandicoot – “Buried”
-This song does an incredible job of bringing together a wide range of musical influences. There are sounds here that feel very much like 80s alt rock combined with more contemporary pop rock influences. The lyrics are emotive while also being hard hitting. The layers of the guitars and electronic/synth elements make for a fascinating sound unlike anything you’ve ever heard before. It’s a great example of a song that builds on its influences while carving out a satisfying sonic path of its own.
Nothing Special – “Arborwood”
-Let me just say that I disagree with the name of this band; I actually think they are something special. The complexity of the punk guitar work on this track is really intriguing. The lyrics have a dreamy sense of having your head “in the sky,” all while the instrumentation feel very much rooted. It seems that the song is fundamentally about mental health, while having this rich human expression of emotions. The combination of the rising instrumentation with the down to earth lyrics make for a fantastic piece of writing. This is a lot more sophisticated than most pop punk music and we’re here for it.
Image courtesy: Nothing Special IG
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