Review #1

The Story So Far - Under Soil and Dirt. 2011 Pure Noise Records

Hey everyone! Thanks for stumbling upon my brand new blog! I'm going to be using it as a blog to review music old and new, ranging from the folk to screamo/hardcore genres, and I hope you all enjoy it. I also hope it inspires you to check out all the great albums and the bands that make them.

For my very first post, I'm going to be reviewing probably my favorite record of 2011, Under Soil and Dirt by the Walnut Creek, California pop-punk band, The Story So Far.

I first heard about this band through a couple really great friends of mine. One of them had posted a music video to one of their songs on their Facebook and I fell in love with them instantly. I am a complete sucker for really well done and constructed pop punk music and this band proves to produce just that. If there ever was a definition for an infectious record, it is The Story So Far's Under Soil and Dirt. 

The type of sound that this band manages to produce is, for lack of a better word, hypnotizing. Hypnotizing in a good way, of course. A very good way. From the minute I put this record on, I have to listen to it front to back. They are songs that will be engraved into your mind for days and days. The lyrics alone are what I think keeps me and other listeners coming back for more. They are so relatable to the young adult generation. The lead vocalist, Parker Cannon, has written what so many of us want to say, but can't. To me, this is an album about growing up and trying to find a place in this world. And I feel that it is a problem that so many young people, like myself, face today.

Aside from the raw, inspiring lyrics, the music is an entity of its own. As I said before, this is perfectly constructed pop punk music and its played by 5 guys who obviously know what they're doing behind their respected musical instruments. From the drums to the vocals, every little sound coming from these guys is tight. All the sound you hear will leave you bobbing your head up and down to the intricate guitar lines and beats of the drums. I am very happy to say that there is not one bad song on this record, as a record like that is very hard to come by nowadays. Even though this is a great record, it may not be the record for you. But if you're into really fun, catchy pop punk songs,  it is definitely worth checking out. You have nothing to lose. The Story So Far brings a fresh new take on the pop punk genre, while staying true to their roots and influences such as Blink 182 and New Found Glory. It's plain to see that these guys have something to say and are a force to be reckoned with. I think we can expect great things from them for years to come.


Like I said, every track on this record is solid and worth giving a listen to, but the most notable tracks to me are: "Roam," "Quicksand," "High Regard," "Mt. Diablo," and "Placeholder."

I'll leave you with the video for their song "Quicksand."

Thanks so much for reading, guys!

Andrew