Score: 4.5/5
If The Front Bottoms were ever considered not on top, the band’s newest album proves they are now, with a new sound included.
The Front Bottoms’ third album “Back on Top” ushers in a new sound for the band which works well but loses a piece of what made the band previously one-of-a-kind.
Before this album, the band was considered a punk rock band without the generic punk-rock sound. The band was a simplistic, widely acoustic group that snuck the occasional trumpet in for intensity. Few electronic instruments were ever used, which made a refreshing twist on the genre.
The heavily electric new sound of the new album may turn off hardcore fans of the original two albums.
For new listeners, the electric twist on The Front Bottoms’ sound is a welcome change, despite being reminiscent of Weezer at first listen. While the new sound works well, the band loses the minimalistic tones that made it stand out from other rock bands.
That said, there is clearly a large amount of thought that went into the new sound, as each chord or vocal serves a purpose in every song. Each tone presents an emotion or reaction. The new instruments, heavier use of harmonies and more complex melodies show the band moving through a maturing stage in its career.
Fortunately, the lyrics stick to the same style that The Front Bottoms use in previous albums. The words twist and turn, making for complex rhymes and alliterations that only The Front Bottoms can achieve. The lyrics paint vivid pictures of emotional experiences, which makes the album meaningful and relatable.
The album’s closing track, “Plastic Flowers,” deals with life’s various unknowns while still believing things are going to work out as part of a different plan. The lyrics describe a scene of hopelessness until the singer steps back and thinks about the bigger picture. He then stops singing to address an audience and has the audience sing the chorus together, symbolizing everyone dealing with the same situations. The song is the perfect end to the album because it provides a high note and a good message to leave the listener with.
The album’s subject matter ranges from love to loss to fate. “Back On Top” is the kind of album that covers various topics, and each song is distinct from each other song, keeping the album fresh from start to finish.
While picking a standout song on a near perfect album is difficult, the track that jumps out is “Laugh Till I Cry.”
The song is upbeat and embodies the band’s maturation. The lyrics, “I laugh ‘til I cry, I party all of the time. I must have liked it a couple of years ago, but at some point I changed my mind,” shows how priorities and interests change over time and describes why the band moved in a new direction with “Back On Top.”
Little else can be said about the album because it is good — plain and simple. Do yourself a favor and listen to it.