Something really beautiful has been happening in the emo / post-emo / pop-punk world over the past 8-10 years and I think we should talk about it more. Perhaps some academic will look back on this moment in time and label it some kind of new wave of emo (I’ve lost count which wave we’re on now). Maybe they give it a new name altogether – I mean, Hot Mulligan basically invented it for them when they started calling themselves “post-emo.” But what I’m getting at is there has been a petri dish of DIY communities that have come up together and built off of one another. We’ve seen them all tour together, wear each other’s merch, post about each other. And I think the impact of this wholesome support and influence in these micro-scenes is starting to be more and more visible. If you need any evidence of what I’m talking about, I suggest you look no further than Future Teens upcoming LP Still Life.
Coming up on ten years as a band, Future Teens have toured with just about everyone I could think of in this swirling community I wax poetic about: Oso Oso, Free Throw, Hot Mulligan, Aaron West, and The Wonder Years to name a few. And those last two are important because I’d say that Dan Campbell is one veteran force largely responsible for the ushering in of this “next wave.” That is no different with this project as Campbell gets a producer credit and even shows up for some background vocals on this LP.
The album kicks off with “Half Life,” one of the songs Campbell lends his voice to although you really have to listen for it. What is more upfront, however, is the influence his Aaron West project has on this particular song, but also woven throughout the rest of Still Life. You’ll hear a bit of that “bummer pop” that Future Teens have coined for themselves (I describe it as Equipment meets Tigers Jaw) but alongside that is an Americana / alt country sound that gets more obvious with every listen. This, to me, is one of the more unique parts of the album that grounds it the most. It’s approachable and raw but also catchy as all hell. At times, this record feels fragile and simple while other times it’s angry and loud. The dynamic is one I also find in bands like Ben Quad; just a tight mix of engaging performances that surprise around each corner.
Aside from the sound, these songs are narrative-driven, soaked in emotion, and seconds from tears. I admit I’m new to their discography, but that didn’t stop me from recognizing their intention to make a deeper, more reflective album about, frankly, being lost in your 30’s. The trio writes about depression and grief in “Half Loser,” “Unmade Bed,” and “Sleep Loss.” They discuss the trans identity in “Double Down.” And they take on religious hypocrisy in “Bad Faith,” which has probably the most cathartic line shouted on the album: “Time will not be kind to you!” Within all of these songs, one thing remains true: honesty sounds good on them. It’s one of the more genuine albums I’ve heard this year – up there with, you guessed it, the new Tigers Jaw album. Part of its charm is the trading of vocals between Amy Hoffman and Daniel Radin. Each with their own perspectives and their own earnest feelings that shine through in their performances. This back and forth provides a great one-two punch of emotion that builds and builds with every track.
The album crescendos with the title song and the first time I heard it, I cried. To put it simply, “Still Life” is a perfect culmination of all the grief, depression, anger, general taking-stock-of-your-life feelings that precede it in the album. While it does ends more optimistic, it is also lonely and devastating and downright beautiful. And if that’s not a perfect description of the album and the current state of emo / pop-punk / bummer pop / whatever-you-want-to-call-it music, then I’m not sure what is.
Still Life is out everywhere on May 8th. Listen to “Bad Faith” below:
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