Bingo
Growing Pains
Self-released (2011)
Sounds Like: A more upbeat The Starting Line
Rating: 8.5/10
What do Choco Tacos, NBC’s Community, and the Las Vegas music scene have in common? They’re all terribly underrated. Bingo’s debut LP Growing Pains illustrates that last part particularly well. I was impelled to pick up their record after seeing their live show, and I was happy to find that the clean vocals, catchy melodies, and overall fun vibe were all just as prevalent coming out of my stereo.
It seems like a silly thing to be excited about, but to me, one of the most refreshing parts of Growing Pains is the clarity of the vocals. It’s nice to hear Angel, the band’s lead singer, cleanly deliver lyrics when so many bands distort or warp their vocals through effects, less than stellar recordings, or even pronunciation.
Admittedly, Bingo’s lyrics aren’t the deepest or most complex, but there’s something genuine and upbeat about their songs. Regardless of your background, chances are that you’ll find at least a few tracks on Growing Pains that you’ll relate to. “Three steps out the door and I already feel it. The weight of your world is weighing down my shoulders,” are the first lines on the awesome break-up song “Look At What A Mess I Can Make,” which manages to be mellow without being sad. My favorite track on the album is “Hell Without You.” A catchy song beginning with a great acoustic riff, it’s about acceptance and being able to appreciate someone’s place in your life for what it is.
The album is well-paced, keeping a steady tempo from track to track, never getting too fast or slowing to a bore. For example, “Magic Does Exist,” the third song on the album, features a ukulele that’ll make you think about straw skirts and coconut bras, but it fits right in with this poppier-than-punk album because of the steady pace and neat little guitar solo. Musically this album has the same tone as its lyrics; smooth, lively, and catchy as all hell. Songs like “Liar Liar Pants on Fire,” “Get It Right,” and “Shake Up” prove my point.
It’s nice to see local bands come together and release quality material, and Bingo has sure made their mark on Sin City with a youthful attitude, relatable lyrics, and infectious musicianship. Growing Pains will reel you in from the get-go, and if you find yourself with one of these songs stuck in your head, don’t say you weren’t warned.
Growing Pains is available for download on Bingo’s Bandcamp page.
-Felipe Garcia
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