Sonic Scene Kids – You Are Not Alone…

Sonic Scene Kids – You Are Not Alone… – Album Review

From the ol’ eastern side of the country, eh?

Always good to hear music from Canada if you ask me, but hey, I live here.  Up until a couple years ago, I wasn’t all that far away from where Sonic Scene Kids are based out of in Toronto, before I moved from Ottawa back home to British Columbia.  My point is that I know what’s in the water they’re drinking, because I was drinkin’ the same stuff for about six years.  Hell, that practically makes us bros, don’t it?

Anyhow.  As “Astro Do-Si-Do” started up, I felt like I’d be able to find my way into this album without too much standing in my way.  Great energy, decent song, solid enough production…plus, I felt like the vocals and instrumentation both revealed highlights in this opening cut – I mean, that’s kinda what you’re looking for, know what I mean?  You want a reason to continue listening, and “Astro Do-Si-Do” felt like it hit that threshold.  I ain’t gonna rant and rave and say that what I was hearing was the song of the year, but it’s definitely the kind of start to an album that confirms these dudes know what they’re doing and have a firm grip on the sound they wanna rock with.  As they blaze through the Emo/Pop Punk sound that scorched its way up to the top of the charts in the early 2000s, “Astro Do-Si-Do” serves as both a new spin on the style you’re familiar with, and a nostalgic blast from the past that’s welcome.

Do I think that they might have better served the record if “They’re Trying To Kill Me” was the opening track?  Yeah…I kinda do actually.  In my opinion, it’s a better track, and stands out a bit more as something of their own, as opposed to how much “Astro Do-Si-Do” will remind you of a ton of bands that have rocked with a similar sound.  When it comes to “They’re Trying To Kill Me,” not only do they have a single-worthy track on their hands that stocked with an arsenal of hooks you can’t possibly miss, but it’s fairly uncharted terrain unless you’re counting noticeable comparisons like The Refreshments or the Canadian deep-cut of Change Of Heart.  This is quality stuff though y’all – I’m into it – “They’re Trying To Kill Me” shows this band is capable of crushin’ it with the collective talent they’ve got, and that anytime they wanna bend things in a more accessible direction, they can switch quickly from their Punk tendencies into universal hooks like they do in the chorus of this second track.  Drums stand out for all the right reasons, so do the guitars, and the vocals have the right energy you wanna hear to rival what’s goin’ on in the energy of the music.  I enjoyed “Astro Do-Si-Do,” but it was this second cut that got me onboard as I started to spin my way through You Are Not Alone… – I mean, LISTEN to the way it starts!  It is crystal clear within twenty-five seconds that they’re comin’ to kick your ass with this song, and they succeed – they’ve got something riotously addictive goin’ on with “They’re Trying To Kill Me,” 100%.

Over four minutes?  Guys, guys, guys…you don’t wanna damage your street cred with the Punk crowd now do ya?  Look…I’ll be real with ya – the extra length doesn’t necessarily hurt them, but by the same token I don’t know that I’d argue they’ve done too much to warrant it either on “Crossfire.”  You get an extended breakdown in return for your time…and while I’m not opposed to that, I don’t know that I’m gonna say that was the piece that made “Crossfire” worth listening to either.  Don’t get me wrong, I actually dig the song overall, and I think if you like what you hear at the start, you’re simply going to get a bit more of what you love in this particular tune…that ain’t a bad thing y’all.  I also think the hooks are effective, that their energy remains right on-point where it should be…it’s kind of like what you’d think Jimmy Eat World would sound like if they played a song written by Sum 41 on their second record.  That might seem like a strange description, but you’ll get it when you listen to it…in any event, I dig this track.

“Fun Me!”  I appreciate the enthusiasm they display in the title.  It’s also one of the most clever, tongue in-cheek, Punk moves you’ll find them make as well, given that “Fun Me!” isn’t exactly verbatim for what you’ll hear them singing in the chorus, you feel me?  I LOVE SHIT LIKE THIS!  This is the kind of stuff I grew up on, where Punk had significant attitude and style combined.  Granted, there’s a whole lotta Pop in a song like “Fun Me!” too, but you’re not gonna find me complaining about that…to me, that just enhances the appeal in what we hear.  LISTEN to the way they use their words on this track though y’all – it’s genius, and I completely mean that.  The way things are phrased, is brilliant.  Take the chorus for example…*spoiler alert…”fuck me…I need a little com…pany” – that’s freakishly smart, and it possesses all the hallmarks of real Punk spirit.  That’s the crude cleverness you wanna find in music like this, and considering it’s com…ing in the middle of what I think most of us would argue is the most accessible AND addictive hooks to be found on the record to this point, I love it even MORE.  This is that track that even the squarest of squares has no choice to turn up because the sound of the main hook is THAT irresistible…and hopefully, it’s not until like, the third or the fourth spin through that they realize what they’re really singing along with.  “Fun Me!” gets a big fucking thumbs up from me – this is guaranteed to be a crowd favorite and be one of the tracks that people go to their shows to see played live for sure.

Sonic Scene Kids is a tight-ass band, and that’s the facts, Jack.  Even on songs like “Comatose” that I’m more on the fence about, they display a lot of things I love along the way.  Like, I might feel like this track is a bit more uneven like a shopping cart with three wheels that work perfectly and one that is clearly determined to fuck with your whole life, but what’s good in this song is freakin’ great, and what ain’t really isn’t that bad at all.  Like…if I’m being truthful with ya…I don’t know how I feel about the backup singer…I like him when he’s singing with the main dude, but on his own…I’m less convinced that he’s got the right sound compared to the seamless fit of their lead singer.  Again, not bad, just not the standout element…I’ve got no real beef, but ultimately, I do think Sonic Scene Kids have the strength they need on the mic and they know where it comes from.  “Comatose” has great hooks in the chorus once again – this is Punk/Pop, not Hardcore/Punk for the record – but that works in their favor.  That’s how they design their material, and it’s the sound that works best for a band like theirs – I’m all for it.  I don’t need raggedy jean jackets and a bunch of patches sewn on to believe something is Punk, it’s a vibe that you can hear in the energy, and Sonic Scene Kids has it.  The verses of “Comatose” are alright, the chorus brings this track up a level, and somehow…in the most un-Punk moment you’ll find on a Punk record, it’s actually the bridge that makes the biggest impact in this cut.  They sound like Superchunk in the final minute of this song…which is a weird place for the bridge to exist…but here we are & that’s the case.  Anything reminding me of Superchunk for any length of time will always get my seal of approval.

“There’s Something Up My Butt” is like…all killer, no filler, as they say.  For real – it’s like it’s all chorus!  So for all of you in their crowd waiting for your moment to shout “GET TO THE CHORUS” – too fucking bad!  This ain’t gonna be your spot to do it.  For all of thirty-three seconds, Sonic Scene Kids launch into what is actually a pretty tasty nugget…”There’s Something Up My Butt” ends up being more than just a gimmick or a quick interlude – it’s actually a fairly irresistible track that you’ll be singing around the house long after it’s over.  No lube required, just shove this song straight into ya…you won’t regret it.

This is the second time in a month I think I’ve dealt with a band that wants to spell it “Echos” instead of “Echoes” – and like, what the fuck?  Do we not have standards anymore?  I know, I know – this from the Canadian that spells everything the American way…I’m a hypocrite, but I’m also the first to admit it.  Anyway…”Echos” kind of confirms what I was talkin’ about earlier on – I’m not as confident in the idea of bands switching up their lead singer…I genuinely think it’s an approach that naturally divides an audience into people that like the tunes from one guy versus people that like tunes from the other.  There’s not an example I can think of from the freakin’ Goo Goo Dolls to Treble Charger that this doesn’t end up being the case.  I’m not even suggesting the other dude in Sonic Scene Kids doesn’t hold his own well enough…he does…but I do think it’s their main lead’s sound that seems to suit the band the best and lead them to their most accessible material.  When you’re on any kind of team, everyone needs to make some sacrifices in you really wanna win…and I feel like Sonic Scene Kids might have some hard discussions about the future to follow when it comes to who they want leading the way on the mic.  As a song, “Echos” comes out decently overall…but I can’t help but feel like it could have potentially come out even stronger if they’d switched up the singers.  That could just be the way I’m hearing it – I have no doubt that the dude singing the lead in “Echos” probably adds more to their street cred in the Punk realm for many of their fans…he’s good enough, don’t get me wrong…but the other dude has the real X-factor that could lead Sonic Scene Kids to the level of success that they’re seeking out as a band overall.  I don’t think I’m really telling them anything they don’t already know based on how the duties are split up throughout the course of this set-list…they know they’ve got a lead singer in Kyle.  Ain’t no savage harm being caused by Peter taking a turn at the mic, but it’s harder to say if it truly furthers the album.

It’s not like we all don’t make mistakes, right?  Fuck…I’m sure I’ve probably made a ton of’em in writing the very review you’re reading right now!  But case in-point, I might feel partial to Kyle’s vocals over Peter’s or whatever, but like, Kyle sings the lead on “Spiders” and I’d have thrown this whole song right out the door!  So there you have it.  Would it have been better if Peter sang this one?  Nope!  I just think this one was D.O.A. from the start – and not the cool Punk kind of D.O.A. either, but its actual definition.  What I do like is that Sonic Scene Kids still play this song on a unified front with the same level of professionalism and commitment that they’ve brought to this whole record…and yes, that even includes “There’s Something Up My Butt.”  It’s not enough to salvage “Spiders” in a way that’ll have it competing with your favorite tracks on this record…this cut doesn’t quite measure up to the standards they’ve set along the way…and yes, that also includes “There’s Something Up My Butt.”  So you know…no harm, no foul – I still wasn’t turning off “Spiders” when it came on, but this is definitely that point in the record where you start to feel things dragging a bit.  All I do is hold the bands/artists I’m listening to accountable to what they’ve shown us they’re capable of – “Spiders” is a good tune on an album that’s stocked and loaded with great ones.  Like I said…sometimes hard conversations need to be had – brutal objectivity is the most common missing ingredient at the beginning of any career, and though they’ve got years of experience between them, this is still only the second album from Sonic Scene Kids in the two years they’ve been pumping out music together.  It’s still early in their evolution…and tracks like “Spiders” probably reveal that they’re still yet to have the tough conversations that really need to be had in the context of making a full record.  Not every song has to die…but some songs never really live…or whatever it was that was said in the Braveheart speech.  I’m not necessarily saying to go full Mel Gibson, like…at all…but do the right things for your album that keep it moving forward.  “Spiders” felt like they took a short step backwards in terms of what they’re capable of, and a bit of an unforced error.

“T.Swift Stole My Sandwich” – you see?  I’m not the only one holding people accountable.  Look man, Punk records are tough to make…it can be really hard to not feel the wear and tear of repetition or the drag of similarities found throughout the genre without doing something decisively different.  “T.Swift Stole My Sandwich” does eventually get around to having a moment that’ll bring people back to listen – it’s right there at the 1:35 mark…and I’m completely perplexed about that being the only time that part shows up in this song.  Like…T.Swift might have stolen their sandwich, but they’ve definitely left something on the table when it comes to this song…and that’s the opportunity to identify the main hook and use it to their advantage.  If you’re looking at You Are Not Alone… from the perspective of a person that’s older than dirt like I am, who used to listen to these things called cassettes that split a set-list right down the middle…tracks one to six belonged on side A without question…and we are definitely on side B at this point.  There are still plenty of positives to work with…Austin is a straight-up BEAST on the drums no matter which track you listen to, Chris has been relentlessly reliable on bass in the rhythm section with him…and in general, I feel like Sonic Scene Kids never pull any punches when it comes time to perform.  For me, it’s about the strength of the material, and that feels like it’s starting to wear a little on the thin side.  To be clear though, that spot around the 1:35 mark is a serious masterstroke…it’s one of the biggest highlights in any song on this entire record…again, I’m shocked they didn’t use it more.

Where they steer the ship back on course, and where their split vocal duties pay off for them the best, is on “Dark Daze.”  You see?  I’m nothing but objective and fair.  “Dark Daze” was a much needed win for Sonic Scene Kids in the latter half of this album, and I’m stoked to hear it!  For a minute or two, I was getting a little concerned…”Dark Daze” restores our confidence in this band and lets us know they still have plenty in the tank to finish this record off.  Peter does a great job in singing this song, and it’s the first one where I really felt like tagging Kyle in afterwards worked out strongly in their favor…they go from good to great as they progress through “Dark Daze” and get the maximum out of the potential in this tune.  Hell, I’d even go as far as to say they’ve got another single-worthy track to be found here at spot number ten in the set-list…”Dark Daze” has a metric ton of universal appeal in the main hooks.  It’s also NEARLY five minutes long…so don’t go gettin’ your Punk panties in a twist, they make the most of their time on this track.  I’d be willing to bet that “Dark Daze” gets consistent approval from everyone that listens to it…it’s extremely well-played by the whole band, and it’s really well-written all around.  Tracks like “Dark Daze,” “Fun Me!” and “They’re Trying To Kill Me” highlight moments where this band is already outperforming their time spent together…you’d only hope to write tunes of this kind of strength by the time a career is finally over, let alone in your first couple years as a band, you know what I mean?

“Yes It Is.” is a trickier one to examine.  Like I said, a Punk record is a very tough thing to make…and there are moments from Kyle’s vocals in the verse that follow patterns he’s already used in this same lineup of songs.  Obviously, there are no rules on this kind of thing, but it is something you’ll end up noticing…and there’s risk in that kind of repetition.  That being said, I still liked “Yes It Is.” even if I wasn’t fully convinced that it did too much that I haven’t already heard from Sonic Scene Kids at this point of the record.  The “keep on trying, keep on trying to survive” hook was genuinely effective and has got real pull to it…that’s easily my favorite moment in “Yes It Is.” beyond the way they pound into this track like they’re auditioning for Lit from the late 90s.  All-in-all, I can get behind this track…it passes the muster.

You can always tell when things are wrapping up when the ol’ organ starts to come into play.  Unless it’s at the start of a record, then things are just beginning.  We’re long past the start though…”Don’t Look Now” is track twelve, so if you haven’t validated your parking yet or the meter’s gonna run out on ya, it’s probably time for you to get ready to head to the exits before the rest of the crowd does.  “Don’t Look Now” would be another track on this album that’ll remind you of something else you heard along the way…Sonic Scene Kids have had a tougher time establishing the differences with the second half of You Are Not Alone… than they did with the material in the first.  Having said that, if you’re digging what you hear from this band, then more of their thing is still a good thing, ain’t it?  Like I’ve said many times on these pages of ours…my first published review that I ever saw at an actual show, was the one I wrote on the debut album from 30 Seconds To Mars years and years ago when they were playing Lollapalooza – and that review basically told them they wrote a great first half of a record and went on to repeat itself all over again in the second.  I’m sure they’d tell ya that they did alright at this point in their career – so believe me, giving the people more of what they want from ya isn’t exactly a bad strategy, even if that method might get called out by asshole critics like me.  “Don’t Look Now” supplies one last burst of the punked-up energy that has made Sonic Scene Kids excellent to listen to, and even if it doesn’t really do too much that differently than what we’ve heard so far, I still felt like I had no problems enjoying it.  I really like how these dudes play together when it comes right down to it…there’s a real unified feeling you get in listening to their music, and I have every reason to believe that’ll get even stronger as they carry on from here.  Lots of good things about Sonic Scene Kids point towards great things in the future.

Oh fuck…here we go though…fish that fucking Bic lighter outta your pocket, they’re going acoustic for the final track, “Heaven,” aka, the babymaker.  I’m kidding…relax Punks.  Not about the acoustic part – that’s real – but you can keep your Bic in your jean jacket pockets and just use your iphone light like everyone else…it’s cool.  Hmmmmm…what DO I think about “Heaven” overall?  Honestly, I don’t know!  I can tell you this – I freakin’ LOVE the recording…the production on this track is completely superb and the tone of the guitars is nothing short of award-worthy.  Would I recommend that Sonic Scene Kids get their backpacks and go on the ol’ acoustic tour?  I don’t think I’m quite there, but I don’t mind what I hear on “Heaven” – I guess I’d simply say that plugged in is where this band belongs more than the unplugged vibe.  T’ain’t bad though…and it’s definitely the track on the album that confirms the record is officially over.  It’s not sappy like Plain White T’s…it retains enough of their Punk essence through the trading of their vocal leads…and they continue to be the most effective when they’re singing together in the main hooks & harmonies.  Yeah…alright…by the end of this week of listening to their album, I feel like “Heaven” was a solid contribution to this album and the right way to finish it all off.  All-in-all, this Canadian band of Punkasses has clearly got something special goin’ on.  I’d definitely look forward to whatever it is they put out next…and hell…if they ever make their way out to the west coast where I’m living now, I’d definitely buy a ticket to their show so I could see these guys play these songs live.  I like what I hear, and I have all the confidence that Sonic Scene Kids will continue to get better as they go on.

Find out more about Sonic Scene Kids from their official website at:  https://sonicscenekids.com

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