When The Starting Line went on hiatus I guess it could have been all too easy for Kenny Vasoli to have done one of two things – either start another band and do the exact same thing, cashing in on the band’s popularity or start a solo project playing stripped down versions of the songs that had built up his name. The fact he’s not done either of these things – and instead has written a really interesting record that sounds absolutely nothing like anything he’s done previously – means I have even more respect for an artist I loved when I was in the middle of my musical education.
Like most people who were teenagers or in their early 20s during The Starting Line‘s most popular record, I loved that band. Like New Found Glory they wrote songs we could all relate to. They sang for us. Even as the band grew up and progressed as musicians their songs remained fun. Person L takes all of that band’s old styles and throws them away. It’s a blank canvas and a very good one at that. It’s not so much an experimental album as one that attempts to deconstruct everything Kenny has done previously and put it back together again in a different way. ‘Goodness Gracious’ has this awesome riff that stomps around as Kenny shouts his way through. It’s fantastic. ‘New Sensation’ and ‘Loudmouth’ have similar up-tempo vibes with foot-stomping riffs and clever lyrical themes. The album’s title-track does the same as the band neglect the straight up verse/chorus/verse theme without losing any of the melodies or hooks. There are plenty of hooks here, they’re just not as obvious as you’d expect from someone who wrote ‘The Best of Me’.
‘The Positives’ is a thoroughly enjoyable record. It’s the type of record that needs to be approached with an open mind, but it’s also the type of record that is very rewarding. It’s not instant and is very much the grower. But stick with it and you’ll get so, so much from it.