Californian pop-punk band Yellowcard are back from their two-year hiatus with their seventh studio album, When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes. For a band who has been around for almost 15 years and comprises members who have passed their 30th birthdays, they seem to remain as timeless, distinct and relevant to their teenage audience as ever. It probably helps that the themes in their songs are universal and easily relatable, and their lyrics broad enough that you could apply them to a range of situations and interpret them a number of ways.
Revisiting the sound of third and fourth albums One For The Kids and Ocean Avenue, Yellowcard’s latest offering is a hit of nostalgia for those of us who were into the angsty pop-punk/emo scene when it first emerged in the early noughties.
Although it has its share of fillers, When You’re Through Thinking… also contains a few gems. Some songs are a mixture; for example, opener ‘The Sound Of You And Me’ with its fast-paced punk drums courtesy of original member Longineu Parsons, is not particularly exciting until it quietens down during the bridge and vocalist Ryan Key pleads, “Bring walls down, hear all my sound/Let me back in, love me again” as a mournful violin line plays in the background, before the build-up begins with pounding drums. Similarly, ‘See Me Smiling’ excels during its bridge; Key sings what he considers to be one of his favourite vocal parts and frantic drums lead into the chorus.
Yellowcard explore their softer side with ballads ‘Hang You Up’, which looks back wistfully on happier times past, and ‘Sing For Me’, a song written from the perspective of Key’s terminally-ill aunt.
‘For You And Your Denial’ is the quintessential pop-punk track, delivering the right amount of angst without overdoing it. The upbeat ‘With You Around’ also exudes a carefree adolescent attitude, with its woah-ohs and chorus lyrics: “All I can think about is you and me driving with a Saves The Day record on/We were singing ’til our voices were gone/And I was falling hard/You were barely hanging on.” But it doesn’t get much more ‘teen anthem’ than closer ‘Be The Young’ (come on, look at that title). The track is violinist Sean Mackin’s favourite off the album because of its “strong melody and great guitar work”; indeed, it’s perfect as a closer and encapsulates the energy and feeling of the entire record.
When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes will please both fans of Yellowcard’s earlier work as well as fans they might have picked up from their previous couple of albums. The pop-punk genre cops a bit of flak, but bands like Yellowcard give it real credibility with genuine, well-written melodic songs that are not only catchy, but have heart.
– Stephanie-Bowie Liew
