Nearly a decade ago, I recall seeing a private performance by YELLOWCARD in a non-descript ballroom hidden deep within the bowels of Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. It was during my oft-referenced time with the now-defunct Sam Goody, witnessing the tail end of the music industry’s self-destructive days of excess. Even with breaking bands, those private performances didn’t come cheap, but it was a chance to witness Yellowcard on the eve of their breakthrough success that would be OCEAN AVENUE. Now, returning from a self-imposed hiatus and back on an indie label, Yellowcard have delivered When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes, an impressive set of grown-up pop-punk, laced with their signature blend of sharp hooks and electric violin leads.
One of the bands featured in our 2011: The Year that POP PUNK Strikes Back? feature, Yellowcard join Unwritten Law in being among the first bands from the early 2000’s scene to re-establish themselves as skilled songwriters for a new decade, and potentially a new generation of listeners.
Smacking listeners with the expertly-crafted single For You and Your Denial, anticipation for this album was not unwarranted. At only 37 minutes in length, there’s enough radio-friendly material here to give this one a strong set of legs to carry it for quite awhile. Hang You Up could be the crossover hit of the bunch, while Life of Leaving Home and Soundtrack aid in continuing the energy of ‘Denial throughout the record.
Is it summer yet?
Rating: 4/5
