Archive for the ‘Dropout Year’ Category
Dropout Year – On A Lighter Note
An acoustic style album, Dropout Year has delivered an EP both heart warming and entertaining. Natives of Baltimore, Maryland, Dropout Year is currently scheduled to play at this years Warped Tour, and have definitely made a name for themselves. With the release of this acoustic EP and their previous effort from 2007, they will have plenty of momentum heading into 2009, with hopefully a full-length or more.
The super sombre attitude of On A Lighter Note is a beautiful change from the aggressive punk of Best Friends For Never (2007). Prior to On A Lighter Note, I might have categorized Dropout Year in the passive-aggressive category, such as the stylings of Brand New. This EP, however, is mainly passive, and it’s a very cool, collective, and easy listen.
Right off the bat, Beer Tears has a relaxed pace and the entire song is such a smooth listen. With a classic acoustic guitar rhythm, subtle hints of piano and other instruments, listeners get a vibrant sound, but at the same time it remains mellow and clean. The vocals aren’t soft and stand out, which makes it a nice change from other acoustic music. The vocal range also isn’t as great as other acoustic bands, but I think the simplicity of the voice is what makes this EP stick out from others. The vocals are also very emotional, and convey a sense of urgency and feeling of movement.
The next track Best Friends For Never, is an acoustic version of the original song from 2007. Listening to both versions, it’s almost a completely different song, and the acoustic transition is quite a journey. The verse and chorus are extremely catchy and remain true to the original. The melody of the guitar is much different and almost folk like to create one of the catchiest tunes I’ve heard in quite some time. Definitely my favourite track off the EP, Best Friends For Never is a fast paced acoustic jam, that has a fantastic beat, and very nice lyrics.
A Coming of Age Story, slows things down a bit, and has a really easy listening quality. The melody isn’t as vibrant, and all the instruments are very subtle, including the guitar. The vocals are slowed down, and the entire song feels very calm and rich. A much more sentimental song, it’s probably the slowest track on the EP, and vastly different from their non-acoustic music.
The rest of album is similar in nature. Every song is very mellow dramatic but all have a very epic feel to them. There’s a lot of soul that is portrayed through the vocals and the often vibrant instrumentals. Dropout Year has shown fans a side to them that I personally would like to see more of. Their passive-aggressive music that they are known for is fantastic, but the transition from overdriven guitars to soft acoustic, is a really nice change. There is definitely room in this genre for more of both, and I think Dropout Year has several styles in which they can succeed in.
Check out their Myspace for official tour dates and album info.
Dropout Year – Best Friends For Never
Dropout Year – A Coming Of Age Story
