Family life has gotten the very best of me in a good way, and I have not been able to dedicate a lot of time to the blog as I would like to, but here I am for now while I have a few moments.
Maybe rather than giving excuses, I should just talk about this new Needles//Pins release that Chris at Dirt Cult Records threw my way to check out.
Before digging in deep here I need to admit how much I am eating up this album with each listen. It is a start to finish jam that caught me by complete surprise.
Hailing from Vancouver, Needles//Pins is a three-piece punk band who have been around since 2009. Perhaps not a well-known band here in the states, they caught a good chunk of my attention with their last release Shamebirds. Needless to say, I was already excited to hear their new material.
Good Night, Tomorrow is Needle//Pins’s third release (Dirt Cult Records / Mint Records) and clearly their best to date if you ask me. The band showcases a much more mature sound with most of their tracks but without losing their edge resulting in a great listen.
Songs like “Violet” and “Back to the Bright” begged to be memorized upon first listen for sing along opportunities. Both of these songs impressed the hell out of me.
The mature sounding “Sleep” carried some great, catchy guitar playing, but it was the lyrics that won me over. Personal, poignant , and to the point.
“All the Same” really reminded of the Replacements at times. I am thinking due to the guitar playing and quick drumming mostly, but I am not complaining here at all. This song ruled.
As someone who is obsessed with 80s punk/alternative rock, “Pressure Points”, “Untitled (You’re Fine)”, and “Something New” all turned into my favorite tracks on this album once I heard them. Just check them out if you can, no explanation needed.
My appreciation for this band went out the roof after I heard “Tomorrow”. Sick riffs, great hooks, group vocals, and a certain organ playing further proved my earlier statement on how Needle//Pins matured. Folky, punky, and freaking amazing, this was the grand finale I was looking for.
For those of you who like the gritty sing along punk rock that has extreme replay opportunities, y’all need to check out what Needles//Pins have put together. Good Night, Tomorrow is one hell of a release that I plan on playing over and over again. Think Iron Chic, Lawrence Arms, and Leatherface all mixed up in perfect proportions. Trust me, you do not want to sit on this album.
“Tumblr” had the band taking on at least 3 decades of different punk rock styles in under three minutes. I was so wowed that I had to listen to it over and over again. Maybe the band did not intend this, but listening to this track alone was something special.
Truth be told, I can not keep up with all these bands today. Perhaps this music lover is just too preoccupied with fighting off being an adult to take notice to every single act out there throwing down good music.