Race The Sun - The Rest Of Our Lives Is Tonight
Race The Sun is one of the better emo flavored pop punk bands to come out in quite some time. This debut effort showcases a serious knack for writing peppy punk songs that incorporate some
of the best elements of good emo, from an emphasis on distinctive lead guitar riffs to varied tempo changes/moods within songs. The songs typically feature a staccato style drum/guitar
framework punctuated with catchy lead guitar work, reminiscent of later Saves The Day, which sometimes progress into softer passages laced with synth/string/wind instruments, similar to what Jimmy Eat World often employ, which are linked by driving, straightforward bottom heavy
rhythm sections which remind me a lot of the faster Knapsack songs. Those are some big shoes to fill in terms of comparisons but this band, if they stick with it for a few albums, will surely
be mentioned in the same breath with those emo heavyweights.
Although the majority of the songs are fairly fast paced, their songwriting style comes to full fruition on the exceptional "Weak Would Be Me Flinching" which at first blush comes across as maybe too emo with it's heavy orchestra elements and sleepy pace but grows on you with it's powerful vocals and strong finish. Still, if the entire album was full of songs such as that it wouldn't nearly be as attention grabbing from start to finish.
The one thing that may turn off a few people is the vocals. They're very similar to the Saves The Day vocalist if a bit lower octave. Still, they're fairly high pitched and definitely squarely in the emo camp having none of the crossover elements the underlying music has. I think the singer sounds great and really fits the songs but punk die hards would probably find it a little soft.
This is one of the stronger debut albums I've heard in quite some time. They've come out of the gates with a fully baked sound that borrows from some of the emo genre greats but remains distinctly their own with their liberal pop punk leanings. This is a strong combination that is executed in top fashion across the board, surprising for a brand new band like this and only makes me more excited to hear what they'll do in the future.
Although the majority of the songs are fairly fast paced, their songwriting style comes to full fruition on the exceptional "Weak Would Be Me Flinching" which at first blush comes across as maybe too emo with it's heavy orchestra elements and sleepy pace but grows on you with it's powerful vocals and strong finish. Still, if the entire album was full of songs such as that it wouldn't nearly be as attention grabbing from start to finish.
The one thing that may turn off a few people is the vocals. They're very similar to the Saves The Day vocalist if a bit lower octave. Still, they're fairly high pitched and definitely squarely in the emo camp having none of the crossover elements the underlying music has. I think the singer sounds great and really fits the songs but punk die hards would probably find it a little soft.
This is one of the stronger debut albums I've heard in quite some time. They've come out of the gates with a fully baked sound that borrows from some of the emo genre greats but remains distinctly their own with their liberal pop punk leanings. This is a strong combination that is executed in top fashion across the board, surprising for a brand new band like this and only makes me more excited to hear what they'll do in the future.
