By Alvin Halimwidjaya
When I came to Fordham in 2014, I was introduced to pop punk for the first time. I fell in love with the genre right away because of how relatable I felt it was. I had spent most of high school getting into hip-hop and rap music; the problem is that to this day, I still cannot relate to Kendrick growing up in the gang lifestyle in Compton or going from selling drugs to rocking chains like A$AP Rocky. However, the everlasting stereotype of a group of 20-somethings eating pizza and yelling about their problems is absolutely a scene I can get behind. Last Friday, Canadian pop punk band Seaway released their third full-length album Vacation, and it is predictably laden with the best of summer nostalgia and exuberance.
What sets Seaway apart from other pop punk bands is its lighter tone. Though they can be just as intense as the next troupe of loud, white suburban kids, the angst is not quite as pronounced. Instead, Seaway injects an exciting, ecstatic brand of pop punk that will have you smiling and jumping along with this four-man group from Ontario.
Only 38 minutes long, Vacation bounds through classic summer experiences with endless enthusiasm. The song “Apartment” pines for crashing at your significant other’s place four times a week, while “Neurotic” describes worrying about the future while still not getting out of bed. Lead singer Ryan Locke’s infectious hybrid of singing and shouting charges each song, making lines like, “I’m trying to be patient/ But I’ll stay asleep instead,” sound relatable instead of lazy.
Songs like “Lula on the Beach” and “Day Player” work to Seaway’s advantage, remaining buoyant even though both songs are about two entirely different girls. “Lula on the Beach” scripts an idyllic summer day on any shore, even the Jersey one, with a punchy synth line driving the chorus forward and positioning it as a road trip favorite. On the other hand, “Day Player” slips a wistful falsetto into a tale about a girl that leaves for the glamour of acting in Hollywood, while still maintaining a cheerful disposition.
Though the album’s tone hovers above the angst most pop punk bands can charge into, Vacation still delves into some pretty depressing stuff. The track “Misery in You” deals with trying to help someone who is depressed and lost in his own head. The song seems to allude to mental health issues, yet Seaway does not dip in energy, assuming the role of someone who’s determined to help in any way they can.
Another song on the somber side, “Scatter My Ashes Along The Coast Or Don’t,” basks in the chaos our lives can feel muddled in. Angst rears its emo head throughout the song, but the key remains major and Seaway remains defiantly optimistic in the face of their anxiety. Once again, the band’s energy lightens the mood without diminishing the song’s relevance to any problem the listener might have, which allows its more bouncy songs to maintain the general carefree mood Vacation exudes.
The second single during the album rollout, “Something Wonderful,” provides an irresistibly wild depiction of a summer romance, from “pop songs by the fire from 2002” to 90’s couple references ranging from Ross and Rachel from “Friends” to Zack and Kelly from “Saved by the Bell.” “Good together, always down whenever” provides a simple, yet compelling bridge, as well as a summary of this sonic rollercoaster.
My personal favorite off this album is “40 Over,” where the group is at its most sincere. An earnest love song, it picks up in intensity and crests with Locke singing at the top of his lungs, “Tell me I’m gonna get it right this time.” The song exhibits Seaway’s ability to balance tenderness and enthusiasm, with lines like, “And now I feel what the world would be like/ If we all breathe in the stars like you do,” a showcase of the wholesome, heartfelt attitude pop punk usually shelters with angst and a large mosh pit.
I could go on and on about how great I think this album is; however, I think it comes down, once again, to the fact that it is incredibly relatable. When I listen to “London,” I think of friends who want to move there after they come back from studying abroad, while a song like “Curse Me Out” reminds me of that dysfunctional college couple we all know. Seaway’s intense happiness is always a welcome presence, and Vacation is a prime example of pop punk’s identifiable appeal.
