The Swellers – ‘Running Out Of Places To Go’

It’s been a rocky few years for The Swellers, but with the Michigan punks full of optimism, they’ve finally come back in a big way with a follow up to 2011’s ‘Good for Me’. ‘Running Out Of Places To Go’ is full of simple yet irresistible punk rock songs, and there’s very little to suggest that the band have lost their touch with their debut Xtra Mile release.

Opener ‘Hands’ immediately catches your attention with an upbeat verse, but it’s the group vocaled “Oh!” that really gets the song going. Lead vocalist Nick Diener’s desperate pleas and passionate vocals manage to stay on the right side of emotional, sounding honest and relatable rather than whiny and off-putting.

‘Let Me In’ sees a few influences from the band’s previous tour mates, Motion City Soundtrack creep in as emotions run high in a track about heartbreak and moving on. It seems the trick here lyrics-wise is to bear your soul as much as possible in a track but, ultimately, remind the listener that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. Musically, the track follows the favourite routine of several punk and pop rock bands of the 2000s, as driving drums and simple chords lead to a chorus that’s hard not to want to bounce around to.

At the midway point of the record, ‘Bad For Me’ carries on in a similar fashion, but it’s very much a case of “why fix something if it isn’t broken?” The Swellers prove that there’s no need for the fancy gimmicks or dramatic breakdowns in punk, and the quality of the musicianship speaks for itself.

‘Making Waves’ strips the poppy elements away, relying on a simple punk style and a frantic bass effort that races through its two and a half minutes.

Title track ‘Running Out Of Places To Go’ slows down the proceedings, showcasing an emo-influenced side of the band. Five songs just doesn’t seem enough here, and following their departure from record label Fueled By Ramen, the band’s style hasn’t changed at all. The same emotion-laden, nostalgic lyrics and malaise of punk-based musical styles remains, and though it’s surprising that The Swellers haven’t achieved their potential yet, with yet another brilliant EP under their belt, it’s hopefully only a matter of time.

KATHRYN BLACK