Responsibility is something that creeps up on all of us. Most of us spend the first dozen or so years of our existence free of the sometimes crushing weight life can heap upon our shoulders. Itâs only as we start approaching adulthood that the reality of the world and our place in it starts shifting into clear focus, and no matter our lot in life itâs a trying time to be alive. That youthful frustration birthed punk rock back in the 70âs, and itâs around this age that most of us start flirting with loud guitars for the first time. Itâs also the conceptual inspiration behind Philadelphia indie-rock champions Beach Slangâs sophomore album, âA Loud Bash Of Teenage Feelingsâ.
âIâm not that young kid anymore, but I used to beâ, says singer James Alex of the recordâs core themes, â…As a 20-year-old, I thought, hey, letâs all have fun, weâre gonna live forever. You donât really see the finish line. Now itâs more like, am I leaving behind work thatâs going to matter?â That feeling of responsibility to his younger self, and to the legions of young punks across the world hanging on every lyric that escapes his mouth, colours every moment of âA Loud BashâŚâ. First track âFuture Mixtape For The Art Kidsâ sets the mood immediately with its stirring opening stanza, âPlay it loud, play it fast / Play me something that will always lastâŚâ. This line alone cements the attitude with which Beach Slang have approached this album – creating art with permanence, not disposable radio fodder that will be forgotten the second the needle hits the run-out groove.
Thatâs not to say Beach Slangâs music wouldnât sound out of place on the radio. Though Alexâs vocals are a little gruffer than many mainstream indie-punk bands, each and every song on this record is filled to the brim with melody and memorable hooks. The bandâs mix of hard hitting power chords and anthemic choruses calls to mind what The Gaslight Anthem might have sounded like if theyâd got over their Springsteen fixation and thrown a Rival Schools record on every now and again. Itâs a refreshing concoction that doesnât fall into any specific genre trappings, meaning that although Beach Slang arenât necessarily an easy sell for someone who just wants the next âFor Fans OfâŚâ album, itâs a record that any punk rocker with an open mind should have little trouble falling in love with.
One of the albumâs greatest strengths is in how concise and perfectly formed each song is. Very rarely does any track exceed the 3 minute mark, the band – filled out by guitar player Ruben Gallego and bass player Ed McNulty – clearly having spent the last year honing their songcraft to a fine point whilst touring in support of last yearâs debut full-length, âThe Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Usâ. From the choppy sing-a-long anthem and first single âPunks In A Disco Barâ to the woozy romance of âYoung Heartsâ, not a second of the albumâs playtime is wasted on unnecessary refrains or typical album âfillerâ tracks. Each and every song here could be released as a single and stand up alongside the best of indie and punkâs leading names.
For the most part the album sounds wonderful too, with a clear but not overly glossy sound that allows each chord to ring through without the processed edge that taints too many modern pop-punk and indie records. Thereâs a lived-in, warm feeling to the production that matches the nostalgic tone established in the songsâ lyrics, and one that does a wonderful job of capturing the basic essence of Beach Slangâs energetic live show. The only possible niggle would be the effect that’s been applied to James Alexâs voice on many tracks on the album, which on a couple of occasions – most notably on the opening track – makes the singer sound like a Dalek. Itâs a strange decision that seems unnecessary considering how unique Alexâs vocal style is already, and though it doesnât ruin the record by any shot, can be a little distracting.
One odd production choice aside, this is a near-faultless album that delivers on all of its promises – the guitars are loud, the songs engaging and sincere. Beach Slang have stayed true to their intentions, and on âA Loud Bash Of Teenage Feelingsâ, theyâve created a vital punk rock record that has earned the right to live on beyond the band and be embraced by generations to come.
JAMES LEE