Let’s talk about the actual album, eh? “Radio Hell” is a clear contender for a popular single. Full of qualities to make you want to put the song on repeat while you happily jam out with air drums, the different choruses link the song as it builds. Frankly, this reminds me a lot of Goldfinger, one of my favorite bands of all time. I love the minimalist vocals that give a chance for a ridiculous guitar solo to show off about two minutes in. Simplicity is the name of the game on this song, but the more you listen to it, the more you dig it.

 

“Cold” gives more focus to the vocal harmonies that carry throughout the song, almost serving as the album’s landmark “sad song.” With lines like “it was so cold / what was I supposed to do” eventually changing to “she was so cold/what was I supposed to do” you can identify with the loneliness of the love story that doesn’t quite work out. I found I listened to this on a loop, enjoying some chair dancing at work, not once bothered or annoyed. “Cold” encompasses Gob’s ability to piece together ideas and balance into a self-produced punk anthem, or at least my anthem.

 

Greeted with a slam of sound, “Same As It Ever Was” breaks away from the first two songs a bit. Bringing a much stronger, amped up feel for the entirety of the song, the song can be summed up with the simple phrase “innocent criminal,” which cuts through the track’s music. Leaning more on rock energy, “the song’s intention reminds me more of Pennywise. Although a quick song, it’s loaded with guitar riffs, heavy drums and a deep-leading bass line. The resulting atmosphere provides a ridiculous shock to the system to reignite you from the first part of the album.    

 

Maybe this is just an era that I miss or one that’s just easier for me to connect to, but I love the memories this album brings back. Consistent with some of my favorite punk bands from the time they began in the 1990s, “New York” made me feel like I should be out chasing dreams again. The ballad gives me chills even now, especially due to the way the melody plays itself out. I have always loved the sound of the snare and it helps drive home the vocals. “New York” provides such a simple message, and made me feel like this was an album I have been long awaiting!

 

As October approaches, you can expect to see Gob travel the many provinces of Canada with sporadic shows likely to pop up in the States. I hope they are able to make it to the Midwest as I know it would be epic to see a band loaded with 20 years of history, perform this album live. Let’s be honest, seven years between albums seems like a bit of time, but given that the album has been in the works since 2010, I think it’s well worth the wait. It’s versatile and unique, yet still nostalgic to their previous work.