Last year, Beach Slang released, The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us. It was a bit hit or miss, features many tracks that just missed that certain kick. Picking up a youthful energy and powering on with some Mall Emo-esque music, Beach Slang’s new release, A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings seems to be a bit fuller of sound –one small positive trait. Sadly, much of the band’s new album is a let down and a sad followup to a fresh Philadelphia band.
A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings takes you back to Hot Topic circa 2005. In a few ways Beach Slang began to take one step forward, and then several steps back into the generic abyss. With song lyrics like, “I kiss your mouth to taste your spit,” (from “Wasted Daze of Youth”), vocals that sound like they’re coming through a Solo cup, and an unfortunate amount of distortion –A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings fulfills its goal, at the very least, in reaching teenager-chic par excellence.
The first time hitting play, a listener will find themselves hopeful –it seemed as if Beach Slang solidified their punk-sounding roots in the oi scene. Much to the listener’s dismay, track by track, Beach Slang lets a horrible menagerie of ‘alternative’ bleed its way through. “Atom Bomb,” the second track of the album, was admittedly a favorite of mine. The lyrics are questionable, but the guitars take on a punk rock vibe reminiscent of CKY –very appropriate for a Philadelphia band. By the next track, I became unconvinced.
“Spin The Dial,” is admittedly the beginning of the end of Beach Slang’s small steps forward. The song is poppy with a bright guitar line, and the vocalist sweeping along with his lines. Sadly, the degree of distortion doesn’t blend with this liveliness and the track crumbles quickly. The half-way point delivers a song by the name of, “Hot Tramps.” The chord progression is incoherently fighting against loud percussive hits. Mixed with a vocalist crying out, “I want to die!” in an awkward tone –it’s a nightmare.
A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings continues on unapologetically poorly. The guitar melodies never begin to amaze, the percussion is clamorous, and the lyrics are insistently fake. Each song is lack luster. By the time you reach the closing track, “Warpaint,” you’re exhauster and only rewarded with more poorly placed lyrics, a melody that has bipolar ups and downs, and is extremely underwhelming. The album just never picks itself up.
Suppose I’m missing the point, in that, the album is called ‘A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings’. I just feel that there’s less juvenile ways to express youthful sentiments. Maybe this is just a loud bash of A Loud Bash, but the album is hardly redeemable. A good friend would not recommend A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings to another good friend; but a myspace friend might recommend the album to another myspace friend. If you’re still into that Mall Emo vibe or just need a throwback, look no further –Beach Slang has you covered.
Rating: 4.5/10