The Starting Line certainly impressed me with their debut EP, ‘With Hopes Of Starting Over’. With pop-choruses punked up to the max, these spritely youngsters looked set to follow on their success with their first full length album and make headway in the pop-punk scene. However, whilst there is no doubt that TSL have certainly made strides, to me, ‘Say It Like You Mean It’ does not quite deliver the goods. Maybe my hopes for this record were too high, but I don’t think it is as good as New Found Glory‘s latest. Still, this is a fantastic little record in its own right, and shows that TSL have plenty of promise for the future.
The production on this record, by uber-producer Mark Trombino, is as lavish and thick as on any pop-punk release you will hear this year. Now usually I am all for having a full sound, by I think TSL have over-stepped the mark here. ‘Leaving’ for example, is fantastic on their debut EP, but here there is too much going on. The layering is over-the-top and while is does not ruin the song, I prefer the older version. Trombino produced the Finch album (and all seventy million layers of it) to maximum effect, but I think The Starting Line do not need such extravagant use of the production desk. But still, each to their own I guess.
And it is the songs at the end of the day that really matter most and for the most part we have killer choruses and catchy hooks aplenty, as Kenny and co launch into the 13 tracks with gusto. ‘Up and Go’ is a fantastic song, with a killer riff and one of the catchiest choruses you’ll hear this year. In essence it’s what TSL do best – and when they stick to this they sound cracking. ‘Given The Chance’ is another fantastic effort, but it’s old favourite ‘Leaving’ that stands out again. OK, it’s over produced in my opinion, but it’s faster and fatter, and if you haven’t heard the old version, you will probably be left open-mouthed. “Please don’t leave me without saying goodbye,” Kenny croons, and it is a song that a lot of listeners will be able to empathise with. ‘Best Of Me’ is a another good song, slightly slowing the tempo down and this is followed on by the brooding ‘A Goodnight’s Sleep’, which is very different to anything else the band have released. It’s a brave effort and it works, although I’m not a huge fan of the track. I much prefer TSL to stick to their patented formula, but still, full marks for effort.
‘Almost There, Going Nowhere’ is back to basics, with drums and riffs crashing from all over the shop and another huge choruses. The pace sounds fantastic, and the dual guitars from Matt and Mike work really well. ‘Cheek To Cheek’ has become a live favourite, and featuring vocals from Finch‘s Nate Barcalow, the track broods along before becoming a singalong classic. The poppy ‘Hello Houston‘ is a great song too, with a bouncy guitar line and some passionate vocals. ‘Decisions, Decisions’ is another strong song before the anthemic ‘Saddest Girl Story’ crashes and bounds from all angles. Another track from the EP, this is TSL at their very best – a fantastic riff that builds up into Kenny’s distinctive vocals, with some distinguished vocals. I’m sure we’ve all been there – “stop expecting change, he’s just a lost cause that you’re waiting on, take a look around, you could have anyone so leave undeserving him.”
The anthemic ‘Left Coast Envy’ features backing vocals from Keith of Days Away, and is another song that will have you screaming along by the chorus. The track is an old song that has been kicking around the internet for a long time, but the beefed up version is the best that I’ve heard yet. The token acoustic track ‘The Drama Summer’ is a good song, but not in the same league as some of the others, before the fantastic finale of ‘This Ride’, which again features Nate Barcalow’s vocals.
‘Say It Like You Mean It’ is comparable to New Found Glory‘s debut album ‘Nothing Gold Can Stay’. Both records have some fantastic songs, but there is just the vital ‘x’ factor missing with both. NFG have of course gone on to hit the nail on the head and become the pioneers of the catchiest and poppiest punk around. And there’s no doubt that TSL want to do exactly the same – they just haven’t quite hit that mark yet. Still, a very good release, certainly one for any fan of pop-punk and definitely a band to watch out for.
Paul