Regardless of what the
Billboard charts might insinuate, Pop Punk – AKA Punk Pop – was not born in the
mid- ‘90s. The roots of the genre first came to prominence in the late ‘70s
thanks to bands like Ramones,
Buzzcocks, The Dickies, and The
Undertones. The blending of the raw power of Punk Rock and soaring,
sing-a-long melodies reignited the Indie scene and made Punk more -for lack of
a better term – consumer-friendly. The term ‘Pop Punk’ wasn’t widely used
until bands like The Offspring,
Green Day, Rancid, and Blink-182 brought
the genre to the mainstream, selling millions of albums in the process. MTV and
radio embraced this new movement that was as hook-filled as it was loud and
aggressive. It is hard to tell whether Pop Punk was a reaction against the
slick Pop and smooth R&B that filled the charts at the time or a full-on
musical revolution but whatever happened, happened.
But like all great musical
movements, there are the outliers, the rebels, the ne’er-do-wells, and the don’t-give-a-shits
who grab a few beers, strap on their instruments, and just play with passion
and emotion. The Menzingers is one
of these bands. This Philadelphia-based quartet is technically a Punk band yet
they could easily be considered Alt-Rock, Indie Rock, and maybe even Power Pop.
While closely associated with Punk Pop, this is one band that has continued to
mature as performers and songwriters.
Since their formation in 2006, they’ve written some of the genre’s most
emotionally powerful songs. While massive commercial success has eluded them,
they’ve quietly built up a dedicated audience and an impressive catalog. And
thirteen years into their musical journey, they’ve released their
career-defining album: HELLO EXILE.
HELLO EXILE is an album
that The Menzingers needed to make. Punk Pop/Pop Punk doesn’t dominate the
charts like it did before, but there is still a demand for passionate music that
reaches out and connects with the listeners. HELLO EXILE is all that
and more. In some ways, the album touches the listener in the same way that
classic Springsteen albums did… but
without sounding like classic Springsteen album. Hmmm… I guess that will make
sense to you once you’ve heard the album. Not nearly as sonically aggressive as
their back catalog, this is an album that is powerful in many other ways. It is
an album that deals with real life: getting older, addiction (alcohol),
relationships, and looking back. Once you reach a certain age, you spend a lot
of time dealing with these issues and it seems that four members of The
Menzingers have reached that age. They may speak of their own experiences but they
are ones that we all share, that we all connect with. Songs like “High School
Friend,” “America (You’re Freaking Me Out),” “Strain Your Memory,” “Anna,” and “Farewell
Youth” are highlights but don’t stop there. Get a copy and just push play. It
is like having a conversation with an old friend. Ah, the healing power of music!
THE MENZINGERS
HELLO EXILE
(Epitaph Records)
10.4.19