WHITE NOISE ZINE ISSUE 20 - SLEEP ON IT, AS IT IS, 3OH!3, + MORE!

SLEEP ON IT AS IT IS 3OH!3 + MORE!

20

SUBSC RIBE Never miss an issue.

Follow us at www.whitenoisezine.com

C O NT AC T US For general inquiries, write to crissy@whitenoisezine.com

SUBMISSION S If you’d like to contribute, email us at danielle@whitenoisezine.com

SP ONSO RS To enquire about advertising or sponsorships, get in touch at crissy@whitenoisezine.com

CONTENTS

WHITE NOISE

EDITORIAL 10 THINGS WE’LL MISS ABOUT VANS WARPED TOUR

2 4

ASSUMING WE SURVIVE

10

3OH!3

14

SLEEP ON IT

16

AS IT IS

20

REVIEWS

24

WHITENOISEZINE.COM

| 01

EDITORIAL

20 EDITORIAL Here we are, issue number 20 in the books! This one took a little extra TLC and emotion to create for you guys. Issue 20 is our celebration of the Vans Warped Tour.

02

|

While it’s sad to see such an iconic tour for our scene go, we’re even more excited to see what type of phoenix rises from its ashes.

Issue 20 features Vans Warped Tour stories from bands Assuming We Survive, Sleep On It, As It Is, and 3OH!3 as well as memories from us.

This brings issue number 20 and the Vans Warped Tour to a close, however, it brings us to the start of fall with new music, new tours, and plenty of other things in store for you guys. See you for issue number 21!

CRISANNE GL ASSER & DANIELLE GIT TLEMAN

WHITE NOISE

| 03

WHITENOISEZINE.COM

10 THINGS WE’LL MISS ABOU T VANS WARPED TOUR WORDS BY \\ CASEY WOLFE PHOTOS BY \\ CRISANNE GLASSER

10 THINGS WE’LL MISS ABOUT VANS WARPED TOUR

W

ell, Warped Tour is officially over. It’s

honor and hope we used enough sunscreen to

like when our favorite TV show gets

prevent any real damage.

cancelled because the actors have grown so much that they’re no longer believable as their intended

6. Free Stuff - T-shirts are expensive and a lot to

characters. As disappointed as we are, all good things

carry around during Warped Tour. However, we need

must come to an end. Here are just a few things we’ll

to prove we were there. That’s why the stickers, pins

miss about Vans Warped Tour.

and posters that some bands just hand out are some of the best souvenirs you can get.

1. Meet and Greets - There is nothing more exciting

06

|

than meeting artists you admire. And at Warped Tour,

7. The Chaos - Figuring out how we can see two of

they’re just real people hanging out in as much shade

our favorite bands on opposite sides of the venue

as they can find. Warped Tour eliminates the formality

five minutes apart is nerve wrecking. But you only live

of fans and celebrities, making the experience of

once, so embrace the rush and try not to trip while

meeting bands so much more organic.

running from stage to stage.

2. New Artists - Whether it’s a local band handing

8. The Lineup Reveal - Possibly the most anxious

out CDs or just bands you’ve never listened to before,

moment of Warped Tour is when they finally let us

almost everyone walks away from Warped Tour as a

in to the venue and everyone makes a mad dash to

new fan.

the giant inflatable schedule board. Let the crazy day planning and map routing begin.

3. New Friends - That girl who accidentally hit you in the head from moshing too hard? Your new best

9. Singing Your Lungs Out - It’s amazing if we’re

friend. People just seem to vibe in the scene. And it’s

able to speak audibly the day after Warped Tour.

always great to have a friend to help catch the crowd

Everything about it is loud, but in the best way. You’re

surfer imminently falling on top of you.

totally off key, like everyone else in the crowd, but no one cares because you’re at Warped Tour. You’re

4. Old Friends - Music brings people together, and

having the best day.

we all have that one friend who just gets our taste in music. When we find someone whose music taste

10. The Music - Finally, the sole purpose we go

matches our own, it’s an instant connection, and often

through this sweaty, thirsty, exhausting day. These

a lifelong one.

bands have had an impact on so many lives, and to see them all perform the songs that got us through so

5. The Heat - Yes, it’s a harsh condition and sweating

many bad days is the epitome of happiness. Warped

is gross. But we wear our sunburn like medals of

Tour may be over, but the music will always live on.

WHITE NOISE

| 07

WHITENOISEZINE.COM

ASSUMING WE SURVIVE LIFE’S AFTER PARTY WORDS BY \\ DANIELLE GITTLEMAN PHOTOS BY \\ ALYSON COLETTA

WHITE NOISE

H

ailing from California, pop-punk band

everything phase, and the past two years of touring,

Assuming We Survive had a huge

so much has gone on in our personal lives that this

summer on the Vans Warped Tour. Having the

record really tells everything. It’s a very personal

opportunity to be on the last tour, as well as release

record.”

new music, they had a very memorable summer.

it was written in an unconventional way. Stepping

At the beginning of the summer, the

Not only does this EP get really personal,

band released a new single, “Just So You Know,”

out of his comfort zone and trying something

and according to lead singer Adrian Estrella, the

different, Estrella approached writing this record a

reception to the song on Warped Tour was pretty

lot differently.

awesome.

years of touring straight, and I was like, ‘I wanna put

“It’s been really, really good. It’s weird

“We got home in October after almost three

because originally we didn’t think of it as a single.

myself in a position, in like an awkward position, in a

The song is about two actual people that I know and

sense.’ I didn’t need a job, but I got one, as the worst

their story, and the chorus is about just everyone in

thing you could possibly do, which is dish washing,”

general. The more I listened to it, the more I thought

Estrella explained. “What I would do, is I would put

we should release the song first,” Estrella explained.

my headphones in and I would literally do my shift

“It’s been great. Everyone is loving it. Actually my boy

and listen to the songs without vocals. I wrote every

Adam from Oceans Ate Alaska hit be up and was

single lyric on this new record while washing dishes.

like ‘dude the song has been stuck in my head’ so

It was kind of one of those things where I was in

that’s also a good sign, when your peers are enjoying

a stressful environment and it really helped me

the song as well.”

channel all of my emotions. The songs just came

together through washing dishes. It was really fun

Following the release of “Just So you

Know,” the band released a brand new EP called

to do that, because like, I’ve never had a job like that

Chapters, that was available exclusively on Warped

before. I made really cool friends, and it was just a

Tour before being released to everyone else. “We

really cool experience.”

recorded it with Tyler Smith from Dangerkids; he

also did the new Blessthefall record, the new Crown

band is sad to see the tour come to an end. “It’s sad

The Empire single, the new Falling In Reverse

because Warped tour has been our home for the

singles, so Tyler’s really awesome,” Estrella said.

summer for so long, not only for us bands, but for

“It’s called Chapters because this is definitely a

fans as well. Now that we don’t have that anymore,

new chapter for our band. There’s been a lot of new

it’s going to be interesting to see what happens.

things within our band, which is great. I’m very proud

The Warped Tour community is a really tight-knit

of this EP, it’s definitely in a direction that we’ve

community to begin with and we all see each other

always wanted to take. I’m very excited about it.”

throughout the year touring, but not having the

summer together, the punk rock summer camp, is

A few things have changed since the band’s

As for Warped Tour, like anyone else, the

last release, specifically, the band got really real

definitely going to be different. It’s very sad. It’s one

and personal this time around. “It’s less pop-punk.

of those things where all go things must come to an

In a sense, there’s like, two pop-punk songs on this

end,” Estrella said.

record, but everything else is a lot different,” Estrella

said. “I feel like our last record, All Roads Lead To

years on the tour, Estrella would have to say that his

Home, we were in like a party, super super stoked on

best memory would be back in 2016 in Cincinnati

Out of all the memories they’ve had over the

WHITENOISEZINE.COM

| 11

ASSUMING WE SURVIVE

“Humbleness. Humility. A lot of humility. This is a very hard tour.

It’s a lot of work. And then just appreciating the little things.”

12

|

Solore, te dolore simpos ilis prae cusam eossus esequi inull

WHITE NOISE

when the band played to a full amphitheater, and he crowd surfed while singing. Even though there’s been a lot of fun and games while on tour, there’s a lot of hard work that goes into being on Warped, too, and over the years Estrella has taken a lot away from his time on the tour.

“Humbleness. Humility. A lot of humility. This is a very

hard tour. It’s a lot of work. And then just appreciating the little things, and I mean all of the little things. Like, the moments of silence, the moments of sleep, the moments of showers, the moments of hanging out with your friends, the moments fans come up to you and tell you that you’ve changed their lives.

Just appreciating every little thing. I think that’s the biggest thing I’d take away from this tour,” he said.

Now that Warped Tour has finally come to an end,

Assuming We Survive are not stopping any time soon. They’re about to head out on tour with Rivals and Riot Child this Fall.

“We’re really excited for a headliner tour, and along with

that we get to play our new album, and I’m so stoked to play these new songs. We get to play a longer headliner set, and having one of our best friends, Rivals, on tour with us is going to be so much fun because we love them, and we love Riot Child as well, so it’s really cool. Both of those bands are female fronted, which is awesome,” Estrella said. “I’m excited for them to be able to get even more exposure because they’re amazing bands. There’s a weird stigma — and I don’t feel like it’s within bands, it’s with fans — they’re like, ‘oh it’s a girl band, whatever.’

But bands, know what’s up. We know what it takes whether you’re female or male, so I want fans to see these girls just kick so much ass.”

If you can check out the band this Fall, definitely do so.

The band is just as excited to get out there and play their new EP.

“We’re so thankful for all of the years of support. If you

ever need anything just reach out. We’re always here for you guys.”

WHITENOISEZINE.COM

| 13

3OH!3

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS WORDS BY \\ GIANLUCA D’ELIA

PHOTOS BY \\ CRISANNE GLASSER

WHITE NOISE

T

en years after

out four more albums — most

3OH!3 made an

recently, Night Sports in 2016.

unforgettable breakthrough with

their single “Don’t Trust Me,” the

also been focusing on songwriting

band came back to grace the

in recent years. The two have

stage at the last-ever Warped Tour,

penned tracks for Ariana Grande,

where the band says their music

Maroon 5, and Karmin when they

career first began.

weren’t busy working on new

material for 3OH!3.

And yes, they’ve kept up

Foreman and Motte have

with all the memes that came

from their iconic electropop hit,

label and no management, which

especially the ones that reference

has given them “a lot of freedom”

the line every high schooler

with their music, Foreman said.

probably screamed at some

point in 2008: you know, the one

and count the blessings,” Foreman

that goes, “Tell your boyfriend,

said. “Any band that has done this

if he says he’s got beef, that I’m

tour gets so much respect from

a vegetarian and I ain’t f**king

me. There are bands that jump

scared of him.”

into a privileged way of touring and

become assholes, but with bands

“I remember bands I

The band currently has no

“You have to look back

listened to in high school, and

down here, it’s hard to meet people

their lyrics are still ingrained in my

who aren’t feeling a sense of

head,” said Foreman. “So it’s funny

gratitude for the small things. It’s

that for some people, they still

a grind. You have to love what you

think of the ‘I’m a vegetarian’ line,

do.”

and that it’s a defining moment for

them. It’s so bizarre to me, but I’m

Warped Tour and the community-

thankful.”

like atmosphere it creates for fans,

Foreman said he’s thankful for the

The Colorado duo, made

Although he’ll miss

up of Foreman and bandmate

impact it’s had on 3OH!3’s career,

Nathaniel Motte, are now

and the fans that have supported

celebrating the 10th anniversary

them for the past decade.

of their first album, Want, which

also featured the Katy Perry

where I’m amazed we’ve been able

collaboration “Starstrukk.”

to do this as long as we have,” he

said. “I’m thankful our fans are

“We see people at signings

“It’s one of those things

say they were seven years old

crazy as we are about having fun

when it came out,” Foreman said.

and keeping the spirit of Warped

Tour alive.”

Since then, the band put

WHITENOISEZINE.COM

| 15

S LEEP ON I T M IS S I O N ACCOM PLIS H E D WORDS BY \\ DANIELLE GITTLEMAN PHOTOS BY \\ CRISANNE GLASSER

ROCKY WALLACE

WHITE NOISE

T

his year was Sleep On It’s first time joining the Vans Warped Tour for multiple dates, and since the tour has officially come to an end, it was better late than never. As fans of the tour, and

attending it as fans for years, being on the last Vans Warped Tour was basically a dream come true. They were excited to play new music for an entirely different type of crowd.

Since releasing Overexposed last November, the band has had nothing but positive responses to the

record.

“It’s been really good. I think our fan base seems to like the record as a whole, which is the most

flattering thing for us,” said guitarist and vocalist Jake Marquis. “We put a lot into it. Honestly, we probably took too much time deciding the track order alone. The transitions from song to song we were like, painstakingly looking at that in the studio. We went back and forth for weeks. Once we finally settled on that, we wanted to make sure that this album made sense to people as a whole, and a lot of people have said that it does. Before Warped Tour started, we asked fans what songs they’d like to hear us play, and obviously we’ve heard a lot of the singles and stuff, but we also had a lot of fans telling us literally every song on the record.”

With such a good reception from the fans, it’s no wonder why the band was super excited to get out

and play these new songs for fans. “The only weird thing about Overexposed is we toured it with Waterparks and then we took six months off because of Warped Tour. So, this tour is where we’re seeing the full response to the album because on the Waterparks tour, we released the record while we were on the tour, so like, people didn’t know all the songs yet. So now, people have had time to digest, and it’s really cool,” Marquis said.

A lot went in to the making of Overexposed, right down to the track list and the lyrics. The band made

sure that everything flowed and everything was intertwined. “‘A New Way Home’ was a direct response to our song ‘Unspoken.’ ‘Unspoken’ is like, a whole different type of song. The tagline is, ‘it’s been a long year,’ and the new record opens with ‘I’ve been trying to lose myself for a year now’ and it’s sort of like a transition from the EP to the album,” Marquis said. “I think the EP was a little angrier, and a little more bitter while Overexposed is a little more reflective of how we were feeling. There are also a lot of references to older songs within that song.”

“We’re a lot older than people think, we’re in our late twenties, so I think the record is really about

finding our place as adults,” Marquis continued. “The record is processing our early twenties, and going into our late twenties. That’s a lot of what the record is about. Finding our place, and how music is such a big part of our lives, and coming to terms with that.”

With all of the time and effort that went into the making of Overexposed, there’s no wonder why

there’s such a big difference compared to the band’s previous releases. “The EP was a lot faster when making it. It was two very short weeks, maybe even ten days. Meanwhile, the album took a lot longer, maybe a little over a month, it was significantly more time. For the EP, we didn’t even have time to ask like, ‘what if we did this,’ or ‘what if we did that’ it was like, here’s the song it’s done, let’s move on. Which was good and bad, because sometimes if you’re overthinking a song, you can make it worse,” explained Marquis. “I think for what the EP was, we did a really good job. For the album, it was the reverse. We had pre-production, where we played some things for the producers first, and talked about it. We also had a lot more time to write this time around, too. We had seventeen songs, and had to narrow it down to twelve. We kind of polled our team on what songs they liked, which was an option we didn’t have before, and that helped us narrow things down.

Sometimes you need that outside opinion of what your art is and what it sounds like, because you might think it sucks but someone else doesn’t.”

WHITENOISEZINE.COM

| 17

SLEEP ON IT

18

|

WHITE NOISE

“As a musician, it’s your dream to make people happy, and really feel something. You want it to have memories attached to it, you want people to have this sort of connection with it. When people tell us that our music does that, it’s like, mission accomplished. We did what we set out to do.”

Even though the band’s LP, Overexposed isn’t quite a year old yet, the

band has been working on new material, working on some new things a little at a time. “We’ve been writing probably for the last three or four months. We had so much down time after our tour with Waterparks, so we have a lot of new songs and ideas. We actually just recorded a new single that we hope to release some time after Warped as like a standalone thing. We’ll probably record a new album in early 2019, nothing is really set in stone, though,” said Marquis.

Since Warped has come to an end, the band doesn’t plan on stopping

any time soon. In fact, they recently announced that they’ll be heading out on tour this Fall with Broadside, With Confidence, And Small Talks, where they’ll be continuing to promote Overexposed.

As for the fans, the guys of Sleep On It are so thankful for each and

every one of them. “We’re very, very grateful for our fans. I want our fans to know that we do read the letters that they give to us, we do see the art you guys make us, and we really do appreciate it,” Marquis said. “It’s hard to put that into words at a meet and greet, and it’s even hard to put that into words on social media. I think it’s really cool, and it really makes our day, that people care that much. Even the tattoos are insane, that someone gets our lyrics tattooed on them. It’s the highest form of flattery as a musician, and it never gets old and we’re very appreciative.”

The band makes music for their fans. At the end of the day they want

them to listen to their music and truly feel what they’re listening to.

“As a musician, it’s your dream to make people happy, and really feel

something. You don’t want your music to be disposable. You want it to have memories attached to it, you want people to like, have this sort of connection with it. When people tell us that our music does that, well, it’s like, mission accomplished. We did what we set out to do.”

WHITENOISEZINE.COM

| 19

AS IT IS THE STIGMA WORDS BY \\ KIYA GASKIN PHOTOS BY \\ CRISANNE GLASSER

WHITE NOISE

A

s It Is is in the midst of a rebrand for

did not forget about the fans. He explained that

their recently released concept album

mental was a topic not only to him, but to As It Is’

The Great Depression. As with all new endeavors,

fanbase as well.

there is a certain level of uncertainty that comes

along. But no amount of uncertainty could stop the

to our fans, but it’s very important to me,” he said.

UK-based pop punk band from exploring new ideas.

“We’ve discussed it to great lengths with fans before

and after our sets: our own mental health and our

Frontman Patty Walters was all about

“It’s certainly subject matter that is important

embracing the change and was ultimate satisfied by

own background experiences.”

the end product.

(Boys Don’t Cry)” ahead of the album. They also

“It’s one of my favorite records we’ve done

As It Is released their song “The Stigma

so far,” he said. “We’re so proud to have written this

dropped a poignant music video to accompany the

record.”

track. Walters said this song was what kicked off the

The Great Depression tackles mental health

project.

and provides commentary on how society perceives

mental illness.

the record,” he said. “It’s kind of where we kicked it off.

It’s been so fulfilling and rewarding to see the lyrics

“(The album) talks about a lot of things,”

“This was one of the first songs we wrote for

Walters said. “I think it’s less about statements and

and the message resonate with so many people.”

more about questions. We’re just kind of talking about

the potential reality that we as a society — we as a

the song high praises upon release.

scene — glamourize or romanticize mental health and

depression. I know we all want to do everything we

expect,” Walters said. “With previous release I’ve

can to eradicate the stigmas and make the world a

been, not apprehensive, but I’ve been trying to predict

better place, but we have to ask if we are doing it in

how people would react to any kind of aesthetic or

the right way.”

musical changes in direction. With this record I was

so confident and self-assured that the predictions

The band’s take on mental health presented

And resonate with people it did. Fans gave “With this record, we didn’t know what to

itself in a darker manor than they were used to.

weren’t worrying me in any kind of way. I was like

‘If nobody likes this record that’s okay with me

“It’s our darkest most ambitious record yet,”

he said. “It wasn’t the record I think anybody really

because I’m proud of it.’ I am really am. Thankfully, the

expected us to make, but here we are.”

response has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Walters grew tired of writing about himself

As It Is’ new concept album follows a

in the same way as he had on previous records. He

character through a journey. The band is using the

cites aging and maturity for the changes in the band’s

characters journey to be representative of how

sound.

society can make the world a better place.

“Writing this record, writing another album

“It’s all metaphorical for our role and how we

about myself and my struggles, my thoughts, and

need to do better, not just for mental health but for

feelings, it didn’t appeal to me in the same way,” he

the world,” Walters said. “It’s hugely important to us.

said. “Maybe that’s the result of getting older and

With our previous record, which was in part about

maturing slightly. But I wanted to write something

mental health, we were encouraging people to speak

that was bit broader and more mature.”

up, to talk, to know that it’s okay to be vulnerable and

imperfect and human just like everybody else. And

While he was trying something new, Walters

WHITENOISEZINE.COM

| 21

AS IT IS with this record, we really want to encourage everybody to listen because if we’re speaking up, if we’re being vulnerable and open, honest, transparent, the receiving end of that needs to be listening.”

To help spread their message, the band partnered with several nonprofits during this record cycle.

During the bands stint on the final Vans Warped Tour, Patty Walters partnered with Hope for the Day to do a workshop called “Warped Wellness: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.” As It Is also held fundraisers for a few UK charities.

While the band was anticipating the release of their new record, they set out on the final Vans Warped

Tour. Although Walters was sad that the tour was coming to an end, he was glad he got to be a part of it.

“It’s bittersweet,” he said. “(Warped Tour) is an integral part of punk rock and alternative music history.

And it’s always so much fun…I’m just feeling so fortunate to have been a part of this, for even just a small time. This is our second time out here. We’re all going to miss it, but we just need to be glad it happened, I guess.”

Right after Warped Tour ended, The Great Depression dropped via Fearless Records. The band is now

getting ready to embark on a headline tour in Europe and the UK, which will be their biggest headline tour to date.

As It Is recognizes the large role fans have in the bands success. With their helps, Walters and the

rest of the band can keep pushing to bigger and better things. Walters had nothing but thanks to give to everyone who has supported the band.

“Thank you for your open-mindedness and embracing all these weird, bizarre, and cool changes that

we’ve embraced as a band aesthetically and musically,” he said. “We hugely appreciate you.”

22

|

REVIEWS

3/5

Australian pop-punk band With Confidence recently released their

latest album, Love and Loathing. It fits so purely in the genre that even if fans don’t love it, they can’t dislike it. The album starts strong with “That Something,” a catchy tune that will stay with listeners, even if only in bits and pieces.

Even more contagious than the last track, “Sing to Me” really grabs

attention in the chorus. Lyrics like, “I know that time is on your mind, but time

WITH CONFIDENCE // LOVE AND LOATHING WORDS BY \\ CASEY WOLFE TOP TRACKS // “SING TO ME” “JADED” “PAQUERETTE (WITHOUT ME)”

24

|

is just a construct,” gives the song an optimistic vibe that agrees quite well with the melody.

“The Turnaround” has an authentically pop rhythm and positive vibe

that With Confidence does so well. It’s simply about making the present better than the past, and it seems entirely possible with this track.

The band continues with the fast paced, contagiousness in “Jaded.”

It’s energizing and alive, contradicting the actual meaning within the song. For example, lyrics like “I wish I could be everything you’re needing/I wish I could find all the things you’re seeking/I wish I could say what you need to hear/ but I’ll never be, never see, everything you’re needing,” should traditionally be accompanied by a slower, sadder tune, but actually this may be the most upbeat song on the album.

In a pleasant surprise, With Confidence slows things down with

“Bruise.” It’s a fairly drastic change of pace on the album, but that’s what makes it stand out. It’s not quite a ballad, but it’s enough of a difference to grab attention. The band holds on to the mellow vibe for one more song, “Paquerette (Without Me).” It’s stripped down acoustic for the most part, and one of the more meaningful songs on the album. “I hope you’re better off with me, in your bed and sleeping soundly, dreaming in the arms of someone new,” shows a side of the band that proves they’re more than pop-punk.

Things pick back up with “Dopamine,” a track with an obvious hook

that listeners love and expect from the band. The sentiment is fairly cliché, but With Confidence pulls it off with music and lyrics that really are true to the genre.

With Confidence gives listeners a wide variety of very genuinely

pop-punk music with Love and Loathing. It starts strong and ends strong, but with a lot of variation in between. Regardless, it is classically pop-punk and listeners will appreciate it for that fact in itself.

WHITE NOISE

4/5

As It Is confront Death itself in their new album, The Great

Depression. Tackling mental health and questioning who’s to blame for the world’s current society, the band confronts the reality of darkness in humanity. Filled with heavier instrumentals than their previous album, As It Is puts lyrics front and center to tell a story of a man face to face with Death.

The opening and title track, “The Great Depression” sets the tone for

the rest of the album. Coming from a self-aware perspective, the narrator

AS IT IS // THE GREAT DEPRESSION

has his eyes opened up to a reality where society is being sold a lie about perfection in everyone’s life that the rest of the world is ignoring. The track does a good job about setting listeners up for the album’s other messages about the realities of misery within this perfection society.

Other tracks on the album focus more specifically on the way men

and boys are both indirectly and directly taught their emotions are weakness.

WORDS BY \\ EMILY KLINGMAN

In tracks “The Stigma (Boys Don’t Cry),” “The Handwritten Letter” and “The Two Tongues (Screaming Salvation),” As It Is highlights the vulnerability men

TOP TRACKS // “THE HANDWRITTEN LETTER” aren’t typically allowed to show. In “The Stigma,” the band does a good job in “TWO TONGUES (SCREAMING the verses, speaking to fans from a knowing and understanding space.

SALVATION)”

The chorus of “The Stigma” is memorable, however the lyrics “THE TRUTH (I’LL NEVER TELL)”

“You’ve got to keep it together now… ‘cause boys don’t cry” aren’t delivered

in a way which separates it from the verses. It feels as if there isn’t enough desperation in the vocals for listeners to convincingly believe this isn’t how the narrator feels. The irony that is found in songs with similar themes (like My Chemical Romance’s “I’m Not Okay (Promise)”) seems to be missing, which would take the track from being good to great.

Overall I did enjoy the album, and I appreciate how As It Is worked

hard to tell an honest depiction of mental health issues and society’s role in letting it manifest in people’s lives. The Great Depression is an album with an impactful theme and a solid message that will connect with a lot of listeners.

WHITENOISEZINE.COM

| 25

REVIEWS

4/5

What does the quintessential American Dream look like from the

outside — specifically, from the eyes of five Australians? It looks like a love letter, for starters, and it sounds like a series of anthems backed by the highly emotional energy fans have come to expect from Trophy Eyes.

In a departure from their punk past, Trophy Eyes’ The American

Dream bursts forth with a new sound that’s missing the brash tempos and angsty vocals, instead featuring John Floreani’s vocals soaring in a style reminiscent of Jared Leto or even Bono. The overall result is an approachable

TROPHY EYES//THE AMERICAN DREAM

album with a wider potential demographic. No, this doesn’t mean it’s totally fit for the mainstream; A-side track “More Like You” has the screams that make pop fans wince. This just means that the album has already garnered high praise from a variety of publications and has been recognized for the genres

WORDS BY \\ TAYLOR GILLIAM it encompasses throughout.

The new direction after 2016’s Chemical Eyes can, possibly, be traced

to Floreani’s time spent in Texas, where he moved with his girlfriend and lived as an expat. The record has that new-perspective feel to it, a sense of awe at the magnitude of changes and the new places to explore. Somehow, too, there is nostalgia woven in between the melodies and the softened edges.

26

|

Highlights of The American Dream are scattered throughout, both

sides holding their own as equally strong. Ballad “Tip Toe” and radio-friendly “Something Bigger Than This” especially stand out as the tracks that are bound to translate to a live setting. Each one tells its own story, tales of love and rebellion and The American Dream.

It all culminates in “I Can Feel it Calling,” the boisterous closer that

has it all; the spirit, the tension filled build releasing into a grand chorus, and the leave-it-all-out-there energy that cements the record’s legacy even after one’s first listen.

Despite its creation outside of the United States, The American

Dream captures its namesake the same way the movies do: from behind rose-colored lenses and full of optimism.

WHITE NOISE

3/5

Death Cab for Cutie brings us into a vivid dream-scape on Thank You

for Today, full of their familiar chiming guitars and built upon mellow synths and lush, focused songwriting. The album remains central on the theme of humanity’s passage through time, and the subsequent changes that come with it. The band’s ninth studio album also brings a distinctive new sound with it, reflecting the band’s maturation and continuation without longtime member Chris Walla.

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE // THANK YOU FOR TODAY WORDS BY \\ LIZ MUSINSKY

Thank You for Today kicks off with “I Dreamt We Spoke Again” where

Ben Gibbard revisits the theme of ghosts through a metaphor for bitter-sweet memories. The song is simple and built upon the band’s signature upbeat yet melancholy sound, with the most definitive line being: “It’d been so long, it’d been so long, your voice was like a ghost.” They seemingly continue with “Summer Years” which furthers Gibbard’s reminiscing on the past with a repetitive and haunting “And I wonder where you are tonight/If the one you’re with was a compromise/As we’re walking lines in parallel/That will never meet and it’s just as well.”

The band then moves into a more traditional Death Cab tune

with “Gold Rush,” an upbeat tune reminiscent on their earlier work. The song finds Gibbard contemplating the capitalistic focused changes in his hometown of Seattle. The song opens with “(Gold rush) Digging for gold in my neighborhood/(Gold rush) Where all the old buildings stood.” With, “(Gold rush) I remember a winter’s night/(Gold rush) We kissed beneath the street lamp light/(Gold rush) Outside our bar near the record store/(Gold rush) That have been condos for a year and more,” we dive deep into Gibbard’s fond memories, and are shown how the passage of time can be a double-edged sword. Musing on your past evokes somber emotions, and the physical maturation of Seattle represents how much has changed in Gibbard’s life.

“Northern Lights” brings another shining, driving song before

returning back to the ethereal sound of the beginning of the album in “You Moved Away” and “Near/Far.” However, Thank You for Today’s closer “60 & Punk” reflects on the life of an anonymous role-model “He’s a superhero growing bored/With no one to save anymore.” The final verse is a poignant representation of how our lives race ahead of us with “There’s nothing elegant in being a drunk/It’s nothing righteous being 60 and a punk/But when you’re looking in the mirror do you see/That kid that you used to be?/Broke and working in a record store/Daydreaming about the upcoming tour/Were you happier when you were poor?/Were you happier when you were poor?”

WHITENOISEZINE.COM

| 27