CURRENTLY LISTENING: Viva A La Atraccion by So Yesterday!
So Yesterday! revisits the melodic, classic no-frills pop punk from yesteryear on their second full length Viva A La Atraccion. It’s a bit clean-cut from the get-go, but that’s kinda what sets this release apart from their previous ones. Less screamy, more focused on fine-tuning those melodies but clearly still having fun. “Misunderstood Yellow” incorporates some unexpected lightness. It’s like all the background “ba” “ba” “ba’s” are the friendly fishes singing to you as you’re drowning. It’s fucking cute, ok? However morbid. More than once on Viva A La Atraccion you’re greeted by some bouncy keys and, duh, you can’t help but think of Reggie and the Full Effect or The Anniversary but you know you liked that sound then. And when it’s coupled with lyrics filled with heartache, the singer straining to just wanting to be heard, and all backed by super-tight band, it’s a no-brainer. “Grey” marks a high point, possibly my favorite, not only for its understanding lyrics and honest delivery, but also for its instrumentation. It’s fun, but not overly simplistic. And damn, that drummer’s pretty jazzy with those fills. Same goes for “Every Band in the World Has a Song that’s About You”—the song I would have put on a mixtape back in the day, singing along with the sun roof open, driving out to Montauk. Classic teenage fun. One downfall for me personally is the slightly ska-infused “The Devil & Aliens Don’t Get Along Together”. It’s fun and the faux steel drums are an innovative addition to the back-beat. But does it belong on this record? And what’s with the lyrics? I suppose I should just ignore them at this point. For a genre so laden with “evil”-women-as-object themes, how should I possibly suggest how to fix this larger problem? Nah, this isn’t the time or place. Moving along. “Not Your Fault” swoops in and imparts some adult wisdom to the hurt and mourning listener. And the song offers a deeper, more mature sound with its steady guitar and bass rhythms. “Coffee Shop Girl” brings the record full circle with some catharsis and a super sweet ending. I hope he asked her out because the song is pretty genuine and endearing. Actually, come to think of it, so’s the whole album. Check it out below…