The world needs Moose Blood. After falling head over heels for the band ever since hearing the lyrics slip from the tracks that feature on last years EP ‘Moving Home’ their grungey, punk inspired love songs have had us hook, line and sinker.
Having spent the summer over in the US recording their debut with Saosin guitarist Beau Burchell, the band have drawn from their early emo influences and taken it upon themselves to bend the genre, becoming their own and producing the music that could define a generation.
Opening with the melancholic ‘Cherry’, the track has a delicate melody to it, just gentle guitar chords strumming alongside Eddy Brewerton’s gloomy lyrics about love, lust and loss. In less than three minutes you’re guided into ‘Anyway’ – the track that gave us the first real glimpse of what to expect from this release, and according to Eddy, is written about his mother. It’ll remind you of being a kid and long road trips with your parents as you chant a long to “I’ll still sing songs on the motorway with you, any day.”
If you were a fan of the previous EPs, you will welcome the inclusion of tracks ‘Boston’ and ‘Bukowski’ which have both been given a slight face-lift to fit in comfortably alongside the rest of the album. Latest single ‘Swim Down’ also makes an appearance in the second half, a poppier track amongst the emo guitar twangs that will undoubtedly get crowds moving. It’s the track that reminds us of all the anthems that we hear at nostalgic alternative club nights – one that we will be singing for years to come.
‘I Hope You’re Missing Me’ has a distinctly recognisable Jimmy Eat World tone about it, the opening guitar riff is a strong reminder of the early works featured on ‘Futures’ and the chorus has has got sing-a-long written all over it. ‘Pups’ and ‘Gum’ do well at sitting pretty amongst the other tracks, not overly influential but enjoyable all the same.
The album then comes to a sorrowful close on ‘I Hope You’re Miserable’. From the outset it’s easy to tell this is going to be an angst-ridden number, the soundtrack to late nights drowning feelings in a bottle of rum. It’ll pull on your heartstrings and then some; prepare for all the feels!
I’ll Keep You In Mind From Time To Time is the perfect companion for so many of life’s experiences. From break ups, to make ups. Dealing with growing up, moving on and trying to fulfil your dreams. For when you want to sing a love song to your girl, without feeling like a wet flannel and you’re at a loss for words. The melodies are simple, yet very effective and it’ll bring back waves of nostalgia for bands like Brand New, Taking Back Sunday and Jimmy Eat World.
TAMSYN WILCE