Thursday, December 15, 2011

The JV Allstars - Hold On To This

This year has already been one to remember, new bands releasing notable debut material with other artists releasing new and improved material. One genre that has made vast steps to resurrect itself this year is pop-punk. Once left for dead, this musical category has boasted bands that have not only tested the waters of the mainstream but dove in. Those bands seemingly became pre-occupied with growing hair swoops and wearing neon colors rather than concentrating on making their music. Newly reborn, pop-punk has become log jammed with bands jockeying for position in the upper echelon just vying for the attention of the listener. This year especially, you have to do something notable by releasing an album that will resonate with fans and reach out to new fans with a lasting message. Enter, The JV Allstars with their new release, Hold On To This.

The JV Allstars - Hold On To This



Starting out with a soft and acoustic beginning, the lead-off track “Portland, Then” brings up similarities and memories of The Wonder Years track, “My Last Semester”. Working with the softer intro, the guitars then create a sonic blast and the tempo increases, leading into the verses. The opening fits the mold for the album, creating an audio atmosphere that can be manipulated and evolve as the album grows. Accented by a round-worthy chorus, this track starts the album off well, showing great promise.

“Side By Side” begins with guitars and drums accenting each other and creating a dueling illusion, eventually settling into the groove for the verses. The lead guitar accents are well orchestrated and are very well placed. This leads me to the main attraction of the song, the chorus. In what is one of the best choruses I’ve heard of any song all year, the lyrics resonate, the melody is simply infectious, and it can be sung at high volumes. Most of the same can be said for “Dollar Menu Date Night”. The vocal and guitar melodies complement each other very well, the chorus is just as infectious and almost forces you to sing along, and the guest vocals (courtesy of Chris Fogal of The Gamits) bring a different element to the track and fit in very well. Both of these songs are some of the essential listening tracks of the new pop-punk revival, and even for pop-punk in general.

Songs like “Coyote” and “Your Pants Are On Fire” hang their hats on their respective breakdowns with melodic choruses and evolving theatrics in vocals. “Leaving Degrassi” starts with a good acoustic riff with vocals that seem despondent, which seem to work unbelievably well with the lyrics. The guitar mix in the chorus is spot-on, holding some of the same elements from the acoustic beginning but never seem content with staying stationery. “Okay” and “Strawdka” are softer songs with steady pacing, eventually bringing both hypnotic and powerful vocals. Both songs have very catchy and infectious choruses, which is a staple of the JV Allstars catalog.

“Hope IS A Good Thing!” is a short love message to friends and fans. Coming in at under a minute in duration the song is a locomotive, keeping a steady pace sonically only to be accented by the vocal theatrics throughout the entire song. Not to be confused with “Hope Is A Good Thing???” which starts as a relentless pop-punk song, mixing in fast and heavy melodies with movements of slower and more powerful elements. “Prevention Kids” features guest vocals from I Call Fives’ Josh Todd, who also nails his vocals in a somewhat contrasting style to those of JVA. The song starts out with a great riff, is propelled by the melodies, the dueling vocals are a fantastic touch, finally highlighted by a solo-breakdown.

“03*02*09” features some interesting touches that are hinted at on other songs, but come center stage on this one. The vocals keep a separate melody from the other parts of the song, acting like their own instrument throughout the song. Using a fast-to-melodic formula for the vocals is a great fit for the mood of the song, accented by an upbeat melody and guitars. “Dollars And Sense” brings hypnotic vocals with melodic guitars and a catchy chorus. The track is a more polished version of a Rivercourt song (fun fact: Colby Sanchez, guitarist and lead vocals from Rivercourt is now the bassist for JVA), which becomes much more than just a touched-up version of the original.

The album ends with “Bestsummerever” and “Summon The Rat”. The former keeps a recurring theme of songs on the album, the melodic guitars mixed with accenting guitars throughout the song. Group vocals end the song with a very homely vibe, closing the track with a wholesome atmosphere. The latter’s rhythmic guitars match the rhythm of the vocals, reflecting the mood of the song. The song serves as a love note to the friends, family, and fans of the band. Ending with a lasting reverb is a perfect ending to the album, giving a nostalgic feeling to the listener. “Summon The Rat” contains a short hidden song about the local music scene and the love that is contained within it.

While the second half of the album doesn’t have the more memorable songs on it, every one of them adds to the theme of the record. From start to finish, you can’t find a bad song on the album, which is a rarity these days. When music has taken a turn with what is popular and what is successful, it’s reassuring to know that there is a band out there that still makes homage to their idols (Homegrown) while still bringing hope and passion to the bands that are up-and-coming. This album serves as a love note to all that the band holds dear and while listening to it you receive every ounce of that love. The JV Allstars coined the phrase “best friend-core” and there’s nothing like listening to this album while being surrounded by the people you love most.

Recommended Listens: "Side By Side", "Dollar Menu Date Night", "Prevention Kids", "Hope IS A Good Thing"

Recommended If You Like: Homegrown, New Found Glory, I Call Fives

Verdict: 9 / 10