For some, the pairing of Yellowcard and Travis Barker is a pop-punk match made in heaven. For the former, they’ve done the whole hiatus thing, only to return for the nostalgic run. Nevertheless, ‘Better Days’ marks a new chapter for Yellowcard, serving as their first full-length album in nine years. As for Barker, not only did he produce the record, but he also stepped behind the drum kit on every song. While he’s more known for his drumming ability, his production work in recent years hasn’t gone unnoticed. Releases from MGK, Ho99o9, Avril Lavigne, and KennyHoopla have benefited from Barker’s production.
On the surface, the pairing appears to be a natural fit. Barker’s punchy drum work complements Yellowcard‘s often emotional but upbeat disposition. There is also the tendency to strike a balance between sounding nostalgic and modern. It’s something that’s quickly achieved on the album’s title track. William Ryan Key’s soaring vocals, Sean Mackin’s succulent violin, and Ryan Mendez’s crunching alt-rock guitar are all present. Alongside Josh Portman’s bass and Barker’s drum work, it’s a bold, exciting opener.
The momentum and freshness are quickly maintained on ‘Take What You Want’ with Barker’s vigorous percussion. While anthemic “oh oh oh”‘s merely elevate the feel-good factor. ‘Love Letters Lost’ opens with some punk rock pounding, adding some grit to Yellowcard‘s often sun-drenched pop-rock. Again, their ability to deliver big hooks is pushed to the forefront with Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba making a fleeting cameo.
Much like ‘Better Days,’ tracks such as ‘honestly i’ and ‘Bedroom Posters’ are drenched in lyrical sentiment, leaning into the nostalgic element Yellowcard carefully utilises. However, they benefit from Barker’s dynamic performance, providing a dense spine.
For all their ability to confidently and consistently deliver pop-rock bangers, Yellowcard have never been ones to experiment. For example, ‘City of Angels’ is a pulsating synth-led romp tinged with sentimental regret. When paired with the mid-point power ballad, ‘You Broke Me Too’ (featuring Avril Lavigne), it provides a respite from the assured energetic blasts that dominate. Later on, ‘Barely Alive’ is Yellowcard at their emotional peak. Its tender build leads to a lush conclusion, all the while allowing Key to hone in on the track’s vulnerable narrative.
For the most part, working with Barker pays off. It allows Key, Mackin, Mendez, and Portman to truly sound reinvigorated, and avoids the pitfall of being completely nostalgic. Yet, moments like ‘Skin Scraped’ have a stench of sounding like a leftover blink-182 cut.
As the album comes to an end with ‘Big Blue Eyes’ wistful acoustics, you get the impression that the scars that led to their hiatus have healed. ‘Better Days’ allows Yellowcard to move forward with purpose, while neatly giving a nod to their past.
‘Better Days’ by Yellowcard is released on October 10th on Better Noise Music.
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