NEW FOUND GLORY - 'RADIOSURGERY' (2011) | Album Review

NOTE: This is a re-write of an album review I wrote for Stereoboard.com back in 2011. It was a rushed effort and I wasn't prude reading it back. Therefore I have edited it, cut it down and raised the quality of writing (I hope).

Since their formation in 1997, New Found Glory have served as a consistent influence to pop punk bands everywhere, including several I've played in myself. With a back catalogue consistent enough to stand the test of time, even through periods where fan loyalty was tested, New Found Glory have transformed from cheeky lads in beachwear into monoliths of their genre, arguably outshining and out-gunning go to pop-punkers Blink 182 and Green Day. Where those bands lost their way and diverted course with, at times, questionable results, New Found Glory have shone consistently with only one or two blemishes on their careers. ‘Radiosurgery’ is an album to truly serve the devout following they have garnered, and shows that Jordan Pundik, Chad Gilbert, Steve Klein, Ian Grushka and Cyrus Bolooki aren’t putting the brakes on just yet.

Within the first twenty seconds of title track ‘Radiosurgery’ (video above), it becomes apparent that when guitarist Gilbert said on the band’s website that they “wanted to go back to more of the roots of punk rock and pop punk and put a whole new NFG spin on it”, he certainly meant it. Its infectious chorus sets a standard for the album that is met thereafter, especially in the huge ‘Drill It In My Brain’ and the anthemic ‘Map Of Your Body’. Both songs soar and capture that ‘spirit of the sun’ feeling, which seems to feature in the the best examples of New Found Glory's work. Across the album, all of the elements one craves from this genre are present - angst, confusion, summer-tinged tones and harmonies to die - they're all here for the party. There are even nods to the 80s and 90s in songs like 'Dumped' and 'Caught In The Act', the former possessing the kind of key shift other bands only dream of, and the latter possessing a remarkable way of reminding this writer of the musical 'Grease'. Please don't ask me why...

Picture by Myriam Santos

Amidst the happy riffs and the upbeat tones of ‘Radiosurgery’, however, there lurks a more mature sort of angst. As NFG have developed their skills as songwriters, their lyrics too have matured; the subjects of the songs are still easy to relate to - girl causes confusion and frustration – but the lyrics are a little less ambiguous this time around, the edge in Pundik’s voice a little too personal. As a long time fan, it is hard not to notice the fact that there seems to be a grown man narrating your current relationship predicament, rather than a young adult with a teenage mindset. Something is troubling whichever member of the band has provided the backstory for these lyrics; indeed Gilbert himself told that Alternative Press, ”We’ve had a breakup in our band, let’s just say that, that was very, very severe and very dangerous. It’s for them to talk about, not me. Someone pretty much lost their mind [and] did a lot of things that were pretty scary for all of us. We’ve all been through that…”

It certainly shows, especially on the storming ‘Memories and Battle Scars’, where Pundik sings that he wants to “kiss you so hard that your lips bleed” and wants to “hold you so tight that your ribs break”; despite the romantic sentiment, there remains the twisted air of a person making sense of the events that have had such an impact on the NFG camp. This new element doesn’t render New Found Glory off putting; on the contrary, it sets a realistic and sadly familiar foundation. ‘Radiosurgery’ provides the listener with a new dimension, whilst possessing a timeless charm. It is an album I can put on at any point, and I’d imagine that the same could be said for any NFG fan. As somebody that discovered NFG as a young man, I am happy to still have the band with me; it is easy to feel that the band has travelled with me through the years, so I am certain that it will be easy for any NFG fan to pick up ‘Radiosurgery’ and feel like an old friend has just walked through the door.

Bob

THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM - 'GET HURT' (2014) | Album Review

The Gaslight Anthem is an odd band for me. They either write songs that seem to tie themselves to my soul, or they write music I skip without a blink. '45', the opening track of 2010 album ‘Handwritten’ never fails to leave me with a smile and a heightened heart rate, yet several of the filler tracks from 2010 effort 'American Slang' leave me uninspired and lacking any desire to carry on listening. These moments are forgivable, however, as when The Gaslight Anthem shine, they truly blind you. As a musician, I draw from songwriters like Brian Fallon, Alex Rosamilia, Alex Levine and Benny Horowitz; it's not necessarily the riffs and melodies used by the band, but the fact that when you listen to the best of Gaslight Anthem, it feels like the music and lyrics are being poured into you.

Certain elements of 'Get Hurt' point to that 'in touch with a higher power' ethos that only really special music possesses, the one that speaks to you at your core. Frontman Brian Fallon has openly stated that this album covers his divorce from his wife of 10 years, and the mood throughout certainly translates as lost and alone. Opener 'Stay Vicious' opens the whole affair with a staggered and beautifully awkward pounding of drums, setting up what proves to be a classic The Gaslight Anthem song with an eerie presence that seems haunt the four piece these days. Fallon's lead vocals lurk amongst creeping guitars that sound almost predatory. The title track 'Get Hurt' (video above) follows this example; Fallon invites the subject of the song to “do your worst”, stoking those fiery themes of separation and dysfunction that punctuate the entire album. Where-as The Gaslight Anthem's previous acoustic efforts would leave you touched and warmed, 'Break Your Heart' hears Fallon insisting his 'mind would break your heart'. It makes listening to ‘Get Hurt’ feel like you’re witnessing a tragedy and you can't intervene. It makes you want to take him out for a beer and help him forget his woes.

Brian Fallon, thinking deeply before revving you up. SOURCE

Not to worry though; there are moments of seemingly positive passion here. The shinier side of The Gaslight Anthem's coin, the same spirit that lives in songs such as ‘Great Expectations’ and ‘Howl’, gleams brightly in the otherwise haunted halls of the dusty home that is ‘Get Hurt’. Songs such as ‘Helter Skeleton’ and ‘Rollin’ and Tumblin’’ (video below) punch you in the face as soon as they begin, revving you up before revealing the wounded beast in Fallon as he soars into the types of chorus that make The Gaslight Anthem so empowering. These songs possess my favourite thing about The Gaslight Anthem; shiny, fun Rock n’ Roll that first grabbed my soul at thirteen years old and still makes me want to play my guitar. Shine though these songs do, loss and lamentations of a fragmented relationship lurk within, and it is hard to escape them. I can forgive this, however; as I said earlier, when The Gaslight Anthem are at their best it feels like the music and lyrics are being poured into you. Though it is a cocktail of sadness and bitterness this time, riddled with the feeling of giving up and the acceptance of being alone, it is a cocktail I would take any day.  Plenty of more accessible and famous artists have never bled this way for a single song, let alone an entire album (and then some). It is an admirable effort.

‘Get Hurt’ is certainly a troubled album; this is not due to any failings on the part of The Gaslight Anthem – it is simply the best way to describe the mood that skulks behind the gorgeous guitar tones and quality songwriting. I hate hearing sadness from those artistic voices that resonate within me most potently, but if the result is an album this good then I can’t complain. To finish, I'll pay testimony to the strength of Get hurt with the following fact: as a Spotify Premium customer, I don’t really need CDs any more as I just use my iPhone and my online Spotify playlists in the car. However, when the battery is dead I need a few CDs to fall back on; I purchased ‘Get Hurt’ to sit beside ’45’ and ‘The 59 Sound’ in my car door, for times when I need reliable music to see me through my drive.

Bob

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