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The Front Bottoms – Back On Top
Release Date: September 18th | Fueled By Ramen Records | Pre-order
If Brian Sella ever took a creative writing class, I’m guessing he aced it. His vivid storytelling and honest, descriptive lyrics are a huge part of what makes The Front Bottoms one of my favorite bands. On the new album Back On Top, the band branches out a bit, while not losing sight of what makes them great. The result is a more diverse and textured album than their previous work.
What is evident anytime you listen to TFB is that they have a true voice. A huge chunk of new bands I am exposed to either
A) Wrote a great single or two and try to fill in an album around it
B) Are good musicians who know their way around a hook – but simply don’t have much to say (ooh! It’s catchy – I’ll jam it for a few weeks then forget about it)
or C) Have a message they want to get across but don’t find an effective or pleasing way of conveying it (I’m looking at you, 9 out of 10 screamo bands)
What makes TFB different is their voice. They have a lot to say, they have a unique way of getting it across, and they bundle it all up in the perfect musical package.
From the understated touches of “Summer Shandy” to the louder ‘rockage’ of “Laugh Till I Cry” and “West Virginia,” we see an accentuation of styles. Slower parts embrace the tempo and mood, like the mellow yet addicting harmonies of “Cough It Out” or the spoken-word outro of “Historic Cemetery” from rapper GDP.
We still get plenty of witty pep & pop, don’t you worry. “Motorcycle,” “HELP,” “The Plan (Fuck Jobs),” and “2YL” all provide a welcome and comforting bridge from 2013’s Talon Of The Hawk and last year’s Rose. TFB’s wit never gets lost, with countless clever and crafty barbs thrown in – not to mention the fact that one of the most unforgettable songs of the batch, “Cough It Out,” clocks in at exactly 4:20 in length…nice touch gents. All these nuances and working parts combine to form a cohesive album devoid of letdowns. That is perhaps the biggest compliment I can give to an album: I put it on and can’t skip a track. Glued together by Sella’s endearing vocals, Back On Top is the next step in the journey of a band with a lot to say, and a pretty damn fun way of saying it.
The Front Bottoms aren’t for everyone. They may not be for the masses. One thing’s for sure though – they are for me, and they put the majority of other ‘contemporaries’ to shame. Back On Top will be near the top of many End-of-Year lists for good reason. Don’t let it slip past your radar.
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