Act As One
The Goodtimes
Capeside Records
Sounds Like: Melodic pop-punk with a youthful attitude and semi-aggressive musicianship.
Rating: 7/10
At the risk of sounding like a boring loser, I spend a lot of time thinking of ways to describe not only how an album sounds, but how it resonates with me. I’ve learned that drawing blanks comes from overthinking, and it’s better to let it come naturally or even accidentally. The other day I was cruising around town with a buddy of mine, listening to Act As One’s new album The Goodtimes. “Hey dude, this is like, fun pop-punk with bounce.” Bingo. My friend cracked a code he didn’t know I’d been trying to crack.
Bounce, while not an attribute of music per se, is a way of saying that the breakdowns and melodic parts have a fun quality that never really crosses over into hardcore.
My favorite track on The Goodtimes, “Truth Dog” is a skate-punk type of song about the ills of modern women, but tucked in each verse is an awesome little two-step part that leads into the hook. “The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday” is the first single and track off of this album and there isn’t a more fitting song to fill those roles. The writing on The Goodtimes is a definite continuation of the band’s repertoire. Reminiscing about the good old days, the clothes you used to wear, and a careless youthful attitude are something anyone can relate to. The only exception is “Charlie Was A Party Ma-Sheen” which is just about partying and getting laid. It’s definitely a blemish, but “You Can’t Take That Matt Benson Kid Anywhere” picks up the slack and “Get a Job, Do Real Life, And Fuck Off” has a cool bridge that features an intricate, drum-fill laden breakdown.
I’d say the guitar work is above average; they always seem to be able to weave lively guitar riffs into each song. But that’s where the above-average musicianship ends. It’s not bad or lazy, but if you’re into this genre of music, chances are you’ve heard all this stuff before. The fact that The Goodtimes probably won’t jump out at you from your iTunes library is a pitfall for me and I feel like some creativity was left on the table. The last song, which has a really catchy sing-along towards the end, also has a ten-minute silent period that will unfortunately take you to a goofy country song that wraps things up. It was definitely a weird way to end the record. Maybe I’ll get into it one day, but probably not.
Act As One fit right in with the growing number of bands who incorporate a lighthearted and fun attitude into both their writing and musical style. Having watched them progress with each release has been very cool and although I definitely feel there’s room for growth, I think The Goodtimes is a surefooted step forward.
– Felipe Garcia
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