As we find ourselves stumbling into the month of April, some like to celebrate the beginning of the month by pulling pranks and cracking jokes on their friends in a silly manner. However, this April 1st, is no joke because we get to be graced with a refreshing new release titled Changing Tides; a split EP released by Second To Last and Starters, two unique bands that are currently blooming in their respective communities in the pop punk scene.
Within the last couple of years California has been a happening spot for a variety of artists that are carrying the torch for upcoming pop punk acts to branch out and explode all across the country. From bands like The Story So Far, Seahaven, Joyce Manor and Souvenirs to name a few in particular, these are individual bands that stand out in California scene today, that bring to the table their take on the pop punk genre and claiming a sound to call their own. Hailing from Lodi, Second To Last is a dedicated band that is carrying that torch today in the thriving California sun; providing with an alternative twist to the traditional elements of pop punk to provide a stand alone style that is breath of fresh air.
Striking first on the A side of the Changing Tides split, kicks things with the head bobbing, toe-tapping extravaganza that is Drugs. The instant imagery that comes to mind when hearing this track to first time is visualizing this song blaring through the speakers of a basement party, where your the hip punk rock guy in the corner controlling the party tunes while bobbing head back and forth to this catchy groove. One deep cut that stands alone on their side of the split is their single Radiation. Radiation is a heavy-hitting tune that definitely defines their signature sound that they championed with their prior release Vessel. For the most part, as this song dives in head first with it explosive chord progression complementing their melodic fills, you can almost imagine as if Bleed American-era Jimmy Eat World had just made a beautiful baby together with Jawbreaker. The last two tracks off the Second To Last side of Changing Tides are stripped-down acoustic tracks that convey a more vulnerable and sensitive side of the band. Intruder is a song that accepts the introvertive characteristics of feeling desolate and alone that some of us may go through in life along with embracing the idea of wanting to do away with bad habits that have held them down for so long (hence the angelic chorus at shines at the end of the song, "and maybe when the sun wakes/I will to/turn the old me into/something new").
What is interesting about these stripped-down acoustic songs is that you can notice that the harmonizing vocal tracks in both Intruder and Growing Up In A Downgrade can allow listeners to compare to likes of the breathtaking voice of a young John Simmons during the early days of Balance And Composure. Those last two tracks definitely allow the members of Second To Last to wear their hearts on their sleeves and engage their audience with personal songs in a genuine manner.
On the other side of the world, Dublin Ireland's Starters complete the B side of the split with breath of fresh air sound that recollects influence from Americanized pop punk heroes like The Wonder Years and Such Gold. Borrowed is the first song on that sets of the B side into full swing of right where Second To Last left off. What separates both Second To Last and Starters apart from one another is while STL provides listeners with a pop punk sound that squeezes in an alternative blend to the mix, Starters is a faster band that embraces the technical and heartfelt aspects of traditional pop punk bands. Strangers is an emotionally-throbbing track that conveys the woes of moving forward after heartache; in the sense of falling out with someone who has been close to you. As we make our way to the final chorus of Strangers, listening to this song would almost make you feel as if you traveled back in time to when you listened to Washington Square Park by The Wonder Years. This powerful verse ("and I'll swallow sad songs/like I can't live without them/because every song reminds me of you"), definitely provides a sincerely heartfelt impact that can help you vent with whirlwind emotions that one might face when falling out with a friend or a loved one.
Quite similar to Second To Last though, Starters provides listeners with the treat of re-released demo songs that are unplugged and stripped down of their energetic tone. Out of the two unplugged songs at the end of the split, Reasons To Stay was one track that stood out to me the most. This was the title-track from an older EP that was re-released on this split accommodated as a piano version. After hearing the original version of Reasons To Stay from their older EP, it was definitely interesting to listen to both songs equally and decipher the difference between the two. This was my first time in a very long time hearing a faster and heartfelt pop punk act like Starters incorporate the piano with their earlier songs just because I did not know what to expect. After listening to the original, it was very interesting to notice the in depth melodic parallels the band has adapted with this re-released version and listen to everything musically come together. Hearing both Second to Last and Starters release these acoustic versions of certain songs together was definitely unique to put out on a split EP because it definitely keeps listeners on their toes with heartfelt surprises that will most likely leave them wanting for more without a doubt.
Overall, Changing Tides is a phenomenal split from start to finish. Second To Last and Starters are two bands that can walk hand in hand because of the fact that their innovative musical attributes compliment with one another; providing avid pop punk lovers with the best of both worlds. Melodic, fast, emotional and innovative, these are some of the qualities that stand alone from these two bands that will leave fans craving for more to come.
Tracklist:
Second To Last
1. Drugs
2. Radiation
3. Intruder
4. Growing Up In A Downgrade
Starters
5. Borrowed
6. Strangers
7. Geocache Girl (Acoustic)
8. Reasons To Stay (Piano Version)
Rating:
Written by Ryan McGrath
Second To Last
Starters
