Millencolin - SOS

Millencolin
SOS
2019
Spotify

It's hard to believe but Millencolin have been making music for 27 years at this point. Each new album is a testament to pop punk, stalwarts of the genre holding the torch alive as the field becomes less and less crowded. This sound is almost the antithesis of what's hot right now. Instead of tight moody trap the Swedes still play around in bright fun skate pop. You would think that the years would wear on the music, especially the vocals, but Millencolin sound exactly like they always have. There are no attempts to move forward or even move on, and for once that feels pretty alright. Their themes have remained almost exactly the same: Weed, sex, relationships, partying and the ills of our society. It's almost funny how out of touch they are with songs like "Yanny & Laurel" a meme that came and went in about five second in early 2018. When they try to get a little to hip or infuse popular culture topics it makes them feel pretty dated, but that also doesn't seem to particularly matter. There is a lightness and an ease to Millencolin's style that gives them this unique position of being out of touch, but totally endearing. You never feel like MIllencolin are trying to get one over on you or trying to make some quick cash. This is the music they like to play, and the music that makes them happy and that seems to be perfectly ok.

"Carry On" somewhat summarizes this perfectly. Despite what is going on around them Millencolin are going to continue to carry on. They seem unaffected even if at times they try to be. It's almost like that one jam band from your hometown who keeps on plugging away, unaware that music is still progressing around them. They aren't chasing trends or trying to relive the glory days, they are just doing what they do. This music is not for everyone though, to some it's a grating sound that they were never in to and will never be in to. This album feels like something for a few dedicated fans, still holding on and still rocking out. Millencolin sound exactly as they always have, likely because they just don't care what people think. It eliminates any kind of stakes and the music is allowed to just sort of exist as this time capsule slash awkward reflection of the last year. It's not good in and of itself, but it has this subjective coziness and excitement. If that doesn't make sense, you're probably right, but it's just the vibe you are left with when listening to this record.

6.5 out of 10