If you’re expecting Man Overboard to sound like some kind of sub-par Blink 182 tribute, you’ll be sorely mistaken. While the band name isn’t exactly the best you’ll come across (but then let’s face it, most band names suck), the music really does the talking. While the New Jersey mob sometimes miss the plate, more often than not they hit home run after home run. The opening salvo on ‘Real Talk’ is as good as any debut pop-punk record I’ve heard in a while. Actually, scratch that. The opening salvo is among the best on any pop-punk record ever.
The dual vocals trade blows constantly, and consistently, throughout ‘Real Talk’. The melodies work brilliantly all the way through, although the dual vox on ‘Fantasy Girl’ stand out a mile in a genre of bands who, well, more often that not can’t sing. The two vocalists actually remind me of Set Your Goals with one slightly higher in pitch than the other. Anyway, this record has some real standout moments. ‘Real Talk’, ‘Parting Gift’ and ‘Montrose’ are all absolutely massive songs that are destined for lots of stereos and lots of ears. The latter has this amazing gang vocal which just sounds incredible.
There are a couple of weaker songs that aren’t quite as instant or sound a little too much like other bands. ‘Al Sharpton’, for instance, sounds a little like a less synthy early Motion City Soundtrack, and while it’s a good song it sounds a little bit too borrowed than some of the other tracks. ‘I Like You’ isn’t as good as the other tracks either, although it’s not exactly bad.
‘Real Talk’ is a real cracker of an album. With rumours of a UK tour at the end of the year, 2011 could well be the year Man Overboard take over.