Beach Slang - The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us

Beach Slang
The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us
2015

The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us is the debut album from Philadelphia post punk band Beach Slang, but to listen to it you would really thing this is more of a culmination of years of slaving away. The album wreaks of nostalgia from the early nineties and college alt rock, but that connection to the past is more in volume and vibe than it is in trying to re-create something. The lead singer James Alex who is now in his forties sings of punk rock memories, but also how those memories connect to the present. The sound of Beach Slang acts as that perfect bridge between the aggression of punk rock and that often far to sappy nature of alternative rock. The balance here is quite nice for anyone willing to give it a shot. "Noisy Heaven" in particular transports you to those late night spots with a mediocre band on stage, half drunk and having one of the nights of your life. Instead of focusing on the problems in the world as most punk does, Beach Slang celebrates the good time, reviles in a life lived.

One of the really great aspects of the album is it's sense of urgency. Alex spits the words out of his mouth because they need to be said, because who knows when He may have another chance. "Too young to die, too late to die young" is the real manifesto here, and also half of a title from one of the tracks, it rings true throughout the album as an aging bastard tries to recon with his own mortality in the face of feeling invincible for decades. "Too Late to Die Young" is also the only track where the band actually slows their pace and volume down. Don't expect many other breaks in the pace throughout the rest of the album though because there aren't any. The band even jokes on one of the tracks that they only play at 11 for all the Spinal Tap fans out there. Despite their aggression and volume there is a real heart at the center of this record. Take a listen to The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us and see what you think.

8.2 out of 10