Drew Beringer
04/10/06, 11:41 AM
PUNCHLINE - 37 Everywhere
Just because Punchline is on Fueled By Ramen does not mean they are Fall Out Boy clones. In fact, they are far from it. With the release of their second album off FBR, 37 Everywhere, Punchline has proven to be just slightly a step ahead of the majority of pop-punk bands these days. On, 37, this Pittsburgh four-piece (vocalist/guitarist Steve Soboslai, guitarist/vocalist Greg Wood, bassist/vocalist Chris Fafalios, and drummer PJ Caruso) fuse honest lyrics, melody, and a lotta guitar into an eleven song pop-punk party.
Crashing guitars begin “Flashlight,” followed by the harmony of Soboslai and Fafalios singing, “Words can make you feel like feathers/but all my friends/they know you better.” Anthony Raneri of Bayside fame lends his vocals at the end of this track, making this a great opener. “Don’t Try This At Home” features guitars that weave back and forth throughout, while “The Getaway” begins with a gentle riff that brings you into hard-hitting intro that catches your attention. A somber track, “The Getaway” is about a lost friendship, “You used up your chances/go find someone else to ruin/I think you’re ugly on the inside.” The album regains its upbeat tempo with “Green Light,” an anthem song that again features the strength of this album, which is the guitar work. The guitar work is nothing groundbreaking or sensational, but it is done well for pop-punk. “Caller 10” will be one of the catchiest songs you’ll hear this spring, and the rhythm section of Fafalios and Caruso carries this song. “For The Second Time” brings the album down a bit. While it’s not a bad song, it really kills the momentum of the album. Thankfully, “The Fake, The Snake, And The Birthday Cake” picks it up with snappy vocals and clap-along moments. “How Could You” is an energetic piece that has the potential to become a fan favorite, and “Wars Will Always Happen” has a slight dance vibe in the chorus. “They Are Strong Hands” begins with a slick bass line that carries the first minute of the song, but picks it up in the chorus. The finale, “Exactly,” is a brisk track with colliding guitars and peppy drumming; it is the best track on the album and closes out 37 in high fashion.
37 Everywhere is not an album that’ll catch your ear instantly, it takes a few listens before you really enjoy it. It has more substance than most pop-punk albums because the vocals are solid and the lyrics aren’t cheesy for the most part, which will benefit mature listeners. 37 is also light on the pop and heavy on the guitars, which helps in making this a very enjoyable album. Some downfalls of the album are “For The Second Time,” which hurts the overall flow of the album, the second half of the album is a lot weaker than the first half, and the fact that I don’t know if this album will have a lot of staying power. But for the time being, it has been dominating my stereo.
Punchline is one of the most underrated pop-punk bands right now, being overshadowed on a label that is home to The Academy Is… and Panic! At The Disco, but with 37 Everywhere, they have stuck true to their sound and have made a very solid album that deserves a lot of attention. If you have $12 bucks extra this Tuesday, I definitely recommend buying 37 Everywhere instead of, say, Rookie Of The Year or Hit The Lights (yes, the same Hit The Lights that I hastily proclaimed as the best pop-punk album so far of 2006 last week. Thanks Punchline for making me look stupid :thumbsup:). 37 Everywhere is as good as it is surprising, and is one of the better Fueled By Ramen releases in the past few years and one of the better pop-punk albums that’ll be released in 2006.
Tracklisting:
1. Flashlight
2. Don't Try This At Home
3. The Getaway
4. Green Light
5. Caller 10
6. For The Second Time
7. The Fake, The Snake, And The Birthday Cake
8. How Could You
9. Wars Will Always Happen
10. They Are Strong Hands
11. Exactly
Produced by: Shep Goodman & Kenny Gioia
Punchline are:
Steve Soboslai - guitar/vocals
Greg Wood - guitar/vocals
Chris Fafalios - bass/vocals
PJ Caruso - drums
Release Date: April 11, 2006
Record Label: Fueled By Ramen (http://www.fueledbyramen.com)
Official Website (http://www.punchkids.com); Official Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/punchline)
Just because Punchline is on Fueled By Ramen does not mean they are Fall Out Boy clones. In fact, they are far from it. With the release of their second album off FBR, 37 Everywhere, Punchline has proven to be just slightly a step ahead of the majority of pop-punk bands these days. On, 37, this Pittsburgh four-piece (vocalist/guitarist Steve Soboslai, guitarist/vocalist Greg Wood, bassist/vocalist Chris Fafalios, and drummer PJ Caruso) fuse honest lyrics, melody, and a lotta guitar into an eleven song pop-punk party.
Crashing guitars begin “Flashlight,” followed by the harmony of Soboslai and Fafalios singing, “Words can make you feel like feathers/but all my friends/they know you better.” Anthony Raneri of Bayside fame lends his vocals at the end of this track, making this a great opener. “Don’t Try This At Home” features guitars that weave back and forth throughout, while “The Getaway” begins with a gentle riff that brings you into hard-hitting intro that catches your attention. A somber track, “The Getaway” is about a lost friendship, “You used up your chances/go find someone else to ruin/I think you’re ugly on the inside.” The album regains its upbeat tempo with “Green Light,” an anthem song that again features the strength of this album, which is the guitar work. The guitar work is nothing groundbreaking or sensational, but it is done well for pop-punk. “Caller 10” will be one of the catchiest songs you’ll hear this spring, and the rhythm section of Fafalios and Caruso carries this song. “For The Second Time” brings the album down a bit. While it’s not a bad song, it really kills the momentum of the album. Thankfully, “The Fake, The Snake, And The Birthday Cake” picks it up with snappy vocals and clap-along moments. “How Could You” is an energetic piece that has the potential to become a fan favorite, and “Wars Will Always Happen” has a slight dance vibe in the chorus. “They Are Strong Hands” begins with a slick bass line that carries the first minute of the song, but picks it up in the chorus. The finale, “Exactly,” is a brisk track with colliding guitars and peppy drumming; it is the best track on the album and closes out 37 in high fashion.
37 Everywhere is not an album that’ll catch your ear instantly, it takes a few listens before you really enjoy it. It has more substance than most pop-punk albums because the vocals are solid and the lyrics aren’t cheesy for the most part, which will benefit mature listeners. 37 is also light on the pop and heavy on the guitars, which helps in making this a very enjoyable album. Some downfalls of the album are “For The Second Time,” which hurts the overall flow of the album, the second half of the album is a lot weaker than the first half, and the fact that I don’t know if this album will have a lot of staying power. But for the time being, it has been dominating my stereo.
Punchline is one of the most underrated pop-punk bands right now, being overshadowed on a label that is home to The Academy Is… and Panic! At The Disco, but with 37 Everywhere, they have stuck true to their sound and have made a very solid album that deserves a lot of attention. If you have $12 bucks extra this Tuesday, I definitely recommend buying 37 Everywhere instead of, say, Rookie Of The Year or Hit The Lights (yes, the same Hit The Lights that I hastily proclaimed as the best pop-punk album so far of 2006 last week. Thanks Punchline for making me look stupid :thumbsup:). 37 Everywhere is as good as it is surprising, and is one of the better Fueled By Ramen releases in the past few years and one of the better pop-punk albums that’ll be released in 2006.
Tracklisting:
1. Flashlight
2. Don't Try This At Home
3. The Getaway
4. Green Light
5. Caller 10
6. For The Second Time
7. The Fake, The Snake, And The Birthday Cake
8. How Could You
9. Wars Will Always Happen
10. They Are Strong Hands
11. Exactly
Produced by: Shep Goodman & Kenny Gioia
Punchline are:
Steve Soboslai - guitar/vocals
Greg Wood - guitar/vocals
Chris Fafalios - bass/vocals
PJ Caruso - drums
Release Date: April 11, 2006
Record Label: Fueled By Ramen (http://www.fueledbyramen.com)
Official Website (http://www.punchkids.com); Official Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/punchline)