Across The AtlanticWords of Progress

Sharptone Records
1 September, 2017
7
A haze of pop punk and the odd splash of hardcore

Across The Atlantic are progressing nicely, and we’ve got the report card to prove it!

Even though we all hated our time there, I think everyone secretly misses the school days. Now let me be clear, I said school days there, not school itself. The old 9-3 time was an age of simpler concepts fighting for our attention. Dreams seemed attainable, money for the most part didn’t determine interests or pursuits, and there wasn’t a seen way of doing things that was the “right path.”

Truth be told, I’m romanticising this period a little bit, but what I truly miss is that feeling of the world lying at your feet, with goals of the dream lifestyle not seeming beyond grasp. It’s this spirit that Texan outfit Across The Atlantic’s label debut Works of Progress clings to.



Written by frontman Jay Martinez about his own struggles and worries regarding university, getting a “real” job and meeting the perceived responsibilities of a 24 year-old as opposed to following his life’s dreams, the LP takes the listener back to a time of optimism, accompanied by a haze of pop punk and the odd splash of hardcore.

Given the running theme of university/education and obligation to adulthood, for this review we’ve collated a report card of sorts to assure the worried parents of the bandmates back home that these boys are doing just fine in their chosen profession.

Songwriting: B+

It’s clear from listening to the record that ATA have been around the musical block a few times. Works of Progress is LP #2 for the band, with the group delivering their debut off their own steam. Now with a label backing, songs like the dynamic and energetic album opener Playing For Keeps, or the marching pop-anthem of Chin Up show that these boys are worth the time when it comes to producing material that’s worth a second listen.

Lyrics: C

As inspiring as the themes of the record are, Works of Progress is unlikely to produce any lyrical longevity, rather capturing a specific moment in the point and time of a band’s career. Whilst obviously there is more going on than just wordplay, the words inevitably influence the song as a whole. Sundress Funeral and Cutting Corners are both personal tales of the struggles faced by the band due to the lack of support networks around them, but words like “Life is what you make of it, nothing more or nothing less,” or “We’ve come too far to just let go” seem unimaginative given the range of emotions and experiences these guys have surely faced.

Hooks: B

As the title of the record suggests, this band are still a work in progress in some ways, and this includes providing the essential ingredient of hooks to their pop coated hardcore. The opening half of the record is the hardest hit in this regard, but cuts Starting Over and in particular 24 Hours nail this idea, making them the most memorable cuts of the record. Both tunes are tight, concise pieces of punk which float around the head for hours after digestion.

Variation of Style: A+

The strongest point of this band is the variation of sound they’ve condensed into the LP. Written before the label offer came, the contrast of the metalcore riffage of Word of Mouth to the piano and acoustic led title track show a band allowing their creative influences to flow uninhibited. Even at the top of the record whilst the songs themselves may waffle, nothing feels forced-there just needs to be a bit more trimming of the musical fat.



Conclusion

Overall, Works Of Progress is an encouraging debut for a band beginning to have doors opened for them. The world of hardcore and punk pop is murky, with over-saturation the biggest enemy of acts hoping to stand out. With great songwriting skills, an impressive range of influences and a unique label behind them, ATA have the chance to improve on what they’ve started here and bring their increasingly catchy sound to a rabid market.

B+

STANDOUT TRACKS: 24 Hours, Chin Up and Starting Over
STICK THIS NEXT TO: Trophy Eyes, The Wonder Years, A Day To Remember



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