2006 was a GREAT year for music (as Emo Kids Anonymous recently discussed on their podcast). We got Louder Now from Taking Back Sunday, The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me by Brand New, Don't You Fake It by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Sam's Town by the Killers, Every Second Counts by Plain White T's, and so many more.
It was a particularly strong year for Fueled By Ramen too, pumping out classics from Cobra Starship, The Hush Sound, Gym Class Heroes, The Academy Is..., and This Providence. And nestled in that slate of classic albums is one of my all time favorites - 37 Everywhere by @Punchline.
I was introduced to Punchline in August of 2005 when I caught them opening for Reel Big Fish in Salt Lake City and I was completely enamored. Their energy was infectious, their hooks were especially catchy and their harmonies were on point. I went over my meager, 19-year-old-working-at-a-restaurant budget and bought Action on CD from the merch table (along with a Reel Big Fish t-shirt that's still floating around my house, although my teenage daughter is the one wearing it these days).
So naturally, as an instant lifelong fan, I was STOKED to learn that they'd be releasing another album just a few months later. And I'd even get to catch them live again, this time as the headliners with Cute Is What We Aim For and The Audition opening.
The album is and always has been a no-skipper for me. From the album art to the title concept (37 really is everywhere, guys) to the hooks and guitars and positive messages, it has been an album I turn back to often over the last 20 years and it's closely tied to so many memories - good and bad.
But enough about me... let's talk about the album.
Track One: Flashlight
Words CAN make you feel like feathers. The band comes out swinging with the first track on this album, and that's reflected in Spotify listens (for those who pay attention to silly statistics). This song is a great one to scream while you're barreling down the freeway though, which is something I've found myself doing often. Plus, it's got guest vocals from Bayside's Anthony Raneri. Total winner.
Track Two: Don't Try This at Home
As a nearly 40-year old kid without a clue, this track still resonates so much with me. I can admit that 19 year old Phil didn't quite understand the lyrics yet, but I've lived enough life now to have been the one promising my poor, newly wed wife, pregnant and on bed rest, that even though life wasn't perfect, even after getting laid off twice in a year, we wouldn't starve. I'm sure everyone reading this has a similar story. We all hit those bumps, and none of us have any idea what we're doing. But we make up the rules, we roll with the punches, and we get where we need to be eventually.
Also? This is poetry, man:
Yeah the backseat's a dream when you're just 18
But the dreams take the backseat so fast...
Track Three: The Getaway
This one's a little more angsty, but that's exactly what you need sometimes. It's a great song, with plenty of opportunity to scream along with the bridge (YOU'RE JUST NOT HUMAAAAN). Plus there's a sick key change at the end, and everyone loves a well timed key change.
Track Four: Greenlight
I distinctly remember listening to this song after breaking up with a long time girlfriend and even though I was feeling pretty beatdown, letting the positive message roll over me. Sure, things weren't what I wanted at that moment, but there were plenty of good things happening for me. Listening to Steve tell me to "Stare into this moment" was just what I needed to hear - plus the way he hits the falsetto the second time he says it is pretty neat.
Some sage advice:
So let's not ask for opposites of what we have
Like if it's hot let's try to be cool with that
And if it's cool, sit by a fire
Fly a kite if you're bored, take a nap if you're tired
Track Five: Caller 10
This one's a fun little warning to "keep your eyes so open wide" because you never know when that one person (or opportunity, if we want to make it maybe a little more profound than originally intended) might be right in front of you, waiting for you to reach out and grab them/it. It's a fun song with a great, catchy, sing-along chorus.
Track Six: For the Second Time
A little slower and a little more of a bummer than the previous tracks, this has some of my favorite harmonies on the whole album.
Track Seven: The Fake, the Snake, and the Birthday Cake
Remember the good old days? This song reminds me of them for sure. For a song that's only three and a half minutes, this song PACKS the lyrics in tight. And there are so many good lyrics to unpack here.
It's safe to say you're only hip as in hypocrite and critically un-acclaimed
There's also something really special about singing the word change change change multiple times in a row. David Bowie knew it, and Punchline does it here a few times.
Track Eight: How Could You
Another great breakup song, especially if you're the one that's been dumped. Lots of great back and forth Whooa-ohhhs here, and there's this gem:
So you figured you'd stop by,
Well I appreciate the push back to point A. For a few days, at least.
When you figure it makes a fig out of you and re, but what's that really mean?
It means you should leave!
Track Nine: Wars Will Always Happen
Killer guitar riffs that break down for a catchy chorus, and some anti-war sentiments that are just as relevant now as they were 20 years ago. I guess the title's correct.
Track Ten: They Are Strong Hands
I want to thank Chris Fafalios for a really sick baseline that drives this song along. This song is empowering, with multiple catchy hooks throughout too. And for Bayside fans, there's a quick but powerful reference to John "Beatz" Holohan, the Bayside drummer who had passed away a year earlier, and who the whole album is dedicated to:
Ain't nobody gonna bring me down
Cause my boy John 'Beatz' got my back!
The music video is pretty cool, too.
Track Eleven: Exactly
We power right into the final track with some strong guitars and some driven vocals with some really cool swings into falsetto. Sometimes, you reach the end of an album and the closer is a little disappointing. Not so with this song, which has a full spread of what Punchline does best - an upbeat chorus, exciting harmonies, flashy guitar work, and a spoken word bridge peppered in for good measure.
You can check out the album on Spotify
You can also listen to an interview with Steve Soboslai on The Wasting Time Podcast from earlier this year.
Sidenote - Steve and the band appearing on Howie Mandell's flash mob reality tv show Mobbed is my roman empire. If anyone has any idea how/where to watch this, PLEASE let me know.