Check Minus

Maybe it’s my affinity for new wave bands such as A Flock of Seagulls or maybe it’s my love for all the great things that are affiliated with Wham City- But I really enjoy this album.

Originally formed in North Carolina before relocating to Baltimore, Future islands brings a unique sound to their new album out from Thrill Jockey.

It is refreshing to hear a new take on this genre of music that hasn’t already been played out in recent years. While it is based on the same sound as the new wave bands of the past, Future Islands brings a post-punk edginess and lyrical darkness to the energetic dance beats of the genre. They take the new wave aesthetic and infuse their own brand of heat wrenching dramatics.

The vocalist’s (Sam Herring) raspy voice adds a seriousness to the feelings the lyrics are trying to convey. Whether it’s his sharp sound in Long Flight or the grandiose delivery in Vireo’s Eye Sam’s voice adds a dynamic to the sound that has the ability to further engage the listener to lyrics in which they can already relate.

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Surely the members of New Found Glory must feel like Wooderson in relation to their fans, but what I could not have predicted was feeling like Wooderson myself in relation to New Found Glory.

Yes – I just essentially called New Found Glory “jailbait.”

I first heard New Found Glory in 2000, when they were called “A New Found Glory” and more famous for an amazing album of pop-punk covers than their own songs. I was an overly self-conscious sophomore in high school, living in a boring suburban wasteland, and the Coral Springs quintet’s sugary sweet nuggets of radio-ready pseudo-punk were like sonic crack rocks for wannabe rebels like me. It was okay to like them back then, but I’m 24 now.

If New Found Glory was a musical vehicle, it would be a sketchy DeLorean whose destination date is permanently locked to “High School,” the age of sugary angst and pent up rebellion. An age I have no goddamn business going back to. And yet, I’m already halfway through the album, and haven’t skipped a track yet. Oh, god. We are far past foreplay. I’m going to hell.

It’s as if I’m 24 years old, standing outside the local bowling alley of my crap ass hometown, and along walked this naive, sexy little high school hottie called “Not Without a Fight.” And damnit, I can’t help but feel dirty for flirting with something I know I’m way too fucking old for.

I’m sure New Found Glory can relate, but hey, when your unwillingness to grow up is as much a cash cow as theirs is, you can’t necessarily blame them for continuing to crank out cute, barely legal albums like this.