Yellow Second are one of the latest acts snaffled up by WEA, following in the footsteps of new labelmates Forever Changed. YS are a fairly rocking outfit that sound like a cross between Lit and the Foo Fighters, although the press release claims the band are influenecd by Weezer, The Posies, Superdrag, and Fountains of Wayne. I wouldn’t really say those bands were an accurate reflection of the YS sound, although the carefully-crafted melodies on offer here make this very easy to listen to. The band are perhaps more famous for having former members of Five Iron Frenzy and The Rocket Summer, although fans of those bands may not immediately be enamoured by the new sound. ‘Altitude’ certainly rocks a lot more than those two bands, that’s for sure.
The opening ‘Silhouette’ lulls you into a false sense of security – the acoutsic guitar and tender vocals may lull you into thinking Yellow Second are another Dashboard clone, but the intro to ‘Chance of Sunbreaks’ immediately dispells that theory. Vocalist Scott Kerr has a relatively likeable voice and to me he sounds like Lit‘s AJay Popoff, especially when he pushes it during the many catchy choruses that litter this record. ‘Altitude’ is always a pleasant listen, if a little too safe at times, but what does drag it down a little is that it’s too clean – the guitars are very well produced and the mix is a little too perfect. It makes songs like ‘Material’ and ‘I Can Awake’ sound a little too sappy; perfect for radio, but a little too ‘dad-rock’ for my liking. This is ironed out, however, with tracks like ‘Mulberry’ and ‘Seed‘, two songs that are catchy and have a little bit of oomph about them.
Yellow Second are probably unlikely to become your new favourite band, but ‘Altitude’ is a decent enough listen. It’s a far cry from the likes of Five Iron Frenzy, but if you like bands like Lit (when they are not at their bounciest), then this could well make it’s way onto your iPod this summer. Worth checking out, but I very much doubt it will change your world…
www.yellowsecond.com
Floodgate Records/WEA
Paul