While browsing my usual punk-related online outlets, I came across a post about a band whose generic name sounded familiar, but didn't particularly peak my interest. With the sheer volume of new music out there, it can be hard to find time to even give a listen to a band if you haven't seen them popping up in other places. But I was feeling adventurous, so I followed the link to the band's myspace page.
When I finally turned off the new Misery Signals songs I'd been listening to concurrently, I was pleasantly surprised by what I heard. The driving melody of Brooklyn's Young Hearts conveys an honest urgency of pop-punk charm that's reminiscent of early Alkaline Trio and takes me back to the days of pop-punk for the sake of pop-punk a la Sidecar (Cleveland) and Chicago locals Tuesday, Mike, and 504 Plan.
The market for pop-punk has been saturated these days by the Fall Out Boys and Good Charlottes of the world; had the genre followed its mid-to-late nineties path into the mainstream, the radio would be in much better shape. The polished and dumbed-down sound of a lot of contemporary radio punk doesn't leave much room for the honest, driving, emotive frustrations of the true hopeless romantic youth. I guess that's why the name 'Young Hearts' is so fitting; it's as honest as the music itself.
Truly, this is what Blink 182 and Green Day were trying to do before they hit the big time. Maybe they should have quit while they were still young. Instead, they redefined a genre that was fine the way it was.
I don't know much about this band, but I do know what I like. Check out Young Hearts. Re-energize yourself with the shy, honest excitement of young love. Word.
"If I told you I was thinking of moving east / would you save a place for me?"
- Get Up Kids, "Newfound Mass"
