Michigan is no stranger to dishing out top-notch Pop Punk, being the origin of many favourites of ours, such as Act As One, We Are The Union, and Citizen. The latest addition to our collection is a Pop Punk/Easycore band out of Lansing, MI, by the name of Hometeam. The 4-piece have been hard at work getting their name out, and are now preparing to put out their self-released EP.
Over the years, some of you may've noticed an abundance of superficial hatred towards the Easycore scene. Though this has never affected us in the slightest, what some don't realise is that not all Easycore is branded by recycled breakdowns and over-used 2-steps. Hometeam reminds us of just this by bringing forward a not entirely original sound, but one that emphasises the potential in Easycore diversity.
Recorded at Drasik Studios in Chicago, IL, I'm Not Sayin', I'm Just Sayin''s overall sound is very clean, driven by the expected Pop Punk foundation. Clocking in at just under 15 minutes, the EP is definitely one to satisfy conventional Pop Punk lovers, as well as those who are always after that extra Easycore edge. I've always wondered if most Pop Punk vocalists happen to sound so similar, or if the resemblance is by design, nevertheless, Hometeam's clean vocals would smoothly fall under the same line of bands within the current wave. I'd have to say that the 5 songs on the EP, along with the artwork, are an accurate representation of the band members' personalities and mindsets; though the band's lyrical value is considerably higher than others', the general image has Pop Punk written all over it. This is in no way a negative point, but worth mentioning, particularly for those who are more selective in their Pop Punk preferences.
For those who appreciate familiarity, the most accurate comparison I can muster is to think of Casting Call and The Swellers combined. For me, It's Really Quite Frightening, The Size is the track that I found had the most to offer; the song is fuelled by catchy, upbeat chord progressions that'll keep you moving side-to-side, until the final breakdown comes in and brings the song to an end.. until you start the song over, and you will.
Given to the right audience, very little room for improvement would be noticed on the EP, however, an impartial listener may find that while every song on the EP is a worthy listen, not a great deal separates them from one another.
I'm Not Sayin', I'm Just Sayin' will be available at shows by the end of the month, but officially comes out in July. The EP will be available through the standard digital outlets, including iTunes and Amazon. In the meantime, you can stream 2 songs from the EP on the band's Facebook page. Remember to also check the band's upcoming shows.
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