The Front Bottoms
Back On Top
Fueled By Ramen (2015)
Sounds like: the best dang Front Bottoms album you ever did hear.
Score: 8/10
“I hope your quarters go to laundry, I hope your problems go away, either buried underground or drifted off into space. What more can I say?”
The Front Bottoms are at it again and I would say that they are certainly back on top, (wink wink). Their new album Back On Top comes in strong with the indie rock/folk pop sound and it couldn’t be any more perfect to jam out to in this beautiful weather.
Preceding the album’s Sept. 18 release date were five singles, each one extremely fun and so easy to get into. The first, “West Virginia,” is a song that everyone can relate to through the lyrics and we all know that’s one of the best feelings in the world. Brian Sella sings, “Like I said, I thought I was focused. I thought I had it figured out, how to organize my words good before they fall right out my mouth. But I have learned that the direction I was walking was so wrong. And I just need a little help here, man, to find the path I should be on.” The next single is called “Cough It Out” and it’s my second favorite song off of the album. It has this fun, summery vibe to it that makes you want to have some fun and move around. There’s also Alison Weiss doing vocals with Brian on this track, which is something different, but their voices mesh perfectly together to make the perfect song.
“Help” is my absolute favorite on this record! Replay, replay, replay, and replay. This is the kind of song you listen to when you have to get out of the negative mind space you’re in. It makes the day feel good. It’s such an upbeat song with awesome rhythms, the greatest lyrics, and it’s just a true Front Bottoms song, to the max. “I’m always focusing on the wrong things, and then the wrong things become everything, I don’t know what I’m gonna do about anything, HELP!” We all need help sometimes and that’s why we have music. Listen to this song and let The Front Bottoms help you with their genius sounds and words. You definitely won’t regret it.
While the other two singles on the album, “Laugh Till I Cry” and “Summer Shandy” are equally as good as the others, the last incredible song I would like to tell you about is called “Historic Cemetery.” It’s more of a slowed down song with a nice, heavy feel to it. It has dark rhythms and a deep set of lyrics. It’ll definitely reel you in as soon as you hear it. “I can’t begin to tell you the way it all felt when everything fell through,” is the last banging line of the song and followed after is a guest verse from New Jersey rapper, Matthew Miller, better known as GDP. GDP does a spoken word verse that ties the whole song together, and it’s the cherry on top of Back on Top.
Though many people seemed initially skeptical when The Front Bottoms signed with Fueled By Ramen for this album, I think they made a great decision and produced a crazy good album. There’s an energy here that brings a smile to my face every time I hear it. The Front Bottoms are also getting ready to start their 2016 spring tour, playing a date here in Vegas on 4/23 at The Brooklyn Bowl. I highly recommend checking out the show to hear these fun songs played live! I’ll be there and we can sing our little hearts out together.
-Rhiannon Price
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