Face to Face
Laugh Now, Laugh Later
Antagonist Records (2011)
Score: 8/10
Usually the 7th studio album from a band as successful as Face to Face would be relatively moot, as people would have long since made up their minds about whether or not to buy the album before listening to the first note. That isn’t true of Laugh Now, Laugh Later.
It’s been almost 9 years since the seminal California punks released their last studio album. Sure, they released a best of compilation in 2005 during their hiatus and reunited and resumed touring in 2008 so you might have caught them live, but they haven’t released an album of new material since 2002’s How to Ruin Everything. The band also released a some polarizing albums in the middle of their career, so it’s not surprising if fans are a little timid about this new release. Thankfully, I can put your mind at ease. Laugh Now, Laugh Later is worth the wait, a triumphant return that will not disappoint, especially for fans of the band’s breakthrough album Big Choice and their previous effort How to Ruin Everything.
Laugh Now, Laugh Later, available now on Antagonist Records, finds the band proving nicely that they are still the kings of the pop punk hook. The album kicks off in a big way with Should Anything Go Wrong, a fast, skatepunk anthem that recalls Lagwagon, current tourmates Strung Out and, of course, vintage Face to Face. As a fan of the band, it’s a nice welcome home and the spirit of that first track doesn’t let up as the album progresses. The intensity in vocalist Trevor Keith’s voice is on full display even when the band mixes up the tempo, such as during the instantly catchy, danceable Blood in the Water.
It’s Not All About You, the album’s first single, is destined to be a live favorite with a barrage of “heys” and “whoa-ohs” that accent Keith’s lyrics about a “cynical and vain” fame-seeker. All for Nothing is much more relaxed musically, a confessional song about a man at his lowest finding strength to overcome his demons and be with the one he loves. The song’s melodic nature allows the band’s individual talents to shine through, particularly Scott Shiflett’s excellent bass lines.
Face to Face have another winner on their hands with Laugh Now, Laugh Later, an album that fans, new and old, will enjoy from start to finish. Now let’s just hope they don’t make us wait another 9 years for the next one.
Face to Face is playing the House of Blues on Saturday, July 2 with Strung Out and Blitzkid.
-Emily Matview
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