By Liz Hammond, Digital Media Editor
There are few bands that can still pull off the angsty alt-punk that we loved back in middle school. Among them are The Front Bottoms who somehow pull this off with ease.
They have been an underground garage band since 2010 when they released their EP, “Slow Dance To Soft Rock.” It was in the same year that they posted their video for their song “Maps” and got the exposure that they needed.
From there they gained a cult following and it was only just the beginning. Before getting to their new album “Going Grey,” it’s important to look at their past successful songs, because they are what make the band genuine.
By far their most famous song, and rightfully so, is “Twin Size Mattress.” There is just something about the voice of the lead singer, Brian Sella, that just makes this song a masterpiece.
Going deeper into the song, the lyrics speak volumes: “She hopes I’m cursed forever to sleep on a twin sized mattress/ In somebody’s attic or basement my whole life/Never graduating up in size to add another/And my nightmares will have nightmares every night, oh every night, every night.” This is everything I have wanted to say to the guy that broke my heart but could never put into words.
From that same album, the song “Peach” is the perfect, quirky love song.
With lyrics like, “You are my peach, you are my plum/ You are my earth, you are my sun/I love your fingers, I love your toes/The back of your head, the tip of your nose,” the song goes on to celebrate all the downsides that some couples have, but still know at the end of the day that they love each other.
The song “Flashlight” is the perfect song to drive to with your windows down and the feeling of fresh air on your face, while the volume is turned all the way up.
Like most songs with The Front Bottoms, it’s the witty lyrics that grab you. The first lyrics in the song are, “Please fall asleep so I can take pictures of you and hang them in my room/So when I’ll wake up I’ll be like ‘Yeah, everything’s all right.’” Talk about a strong start.
Let’s get into their new album, though. This will come across as incredibly different to those fans who have been listening since the beginning.
Right off the bat you start with the song, “You Used to Say” and the intro is waves and it just puts you in the right frame of mind for the entire album. What is stunning about this song is the chorus: with that many vulgar words, it really stands out.
Speaking of an amazing chorus, the next song, “Peace Sign,” will be stuck in your head for days. There’s something so simple about this melody and the lyrics, “The next time that she sees him it’ll be peace sign, middle finger.” Sella’s voice does wonders.
“Bae” is The Front Bottoms trying to reach out to an audience and have them relate. But, if you look closely into this song, it gets so heavy and real: “I gotta move my car, I gotta move your couch, I learnt that love tastes good/ You shoved it in my mouth,” they are recognizing the struggle of being a relationship, which isn’t just a walk in the park.
“Don’t Fill Up On Chips” is by far the most standout song on the album. Not just from the melody and Sella’s voice coming together in one masterpiece, but the breakdown of lyrics and how raw they are. For example, “That it hurts, but it’s good/No matter how bad, it’s always good,” talking about how even though your feelings are hurt, it’s still good to feel something at all.
I could continue on going through every song on this album. But, I want to save some surprise for you guys. Yes, this album is so different than previous ones, but isn’t that what makes it fun to follow a band? To see how they want to progress as they grow.
Obviously in their time, they have learned what works for them, but they are continuing to change their sound to something more complex. We should be praising them for having the balls to step out of the box.