Album Review: Yellowcard – Self Titled

This is Yellowcard‘s tenth, and sadly their final, album, following the release of this eponymous swan song they will embark on a final world tour that will run thoughout 2016 and 2017, which will mark their twentieth anniversary before the band members go their separate ways. As this is their final offering will Yellowcard bow out kicking and screaming, or will they go quietly into the night?

Given this is their final album Yellowcard open proceedings appropriately enough with Rest In Peace, this is a solid multi layered opener which seems to be tinged with regret, in contrast What Appears is a different, but equally multi faceted, number that builds to an anthemic chorus. The album seems to find it’s feet as the upbeat Get Yours kicks in with an unrelenting riff and much heavier sound than was previously in evidence. However, from this point the album eases off the gas until you hit the melancholy, and somewhat mawkish, piano led ballad Leave A Light On. Much of this album seems to be mulling over their own demise, with the noble exceptions of Get Yours and Savior’s Robes, this largely seems to be what can only be viewed as an elongated suicide note to their fans. Personally I’d have preferred them to bow out with a noisy kick ass wake that no one would have forgotten, as it is this is largely a rather sombre affair that’s tinged with regret, and that’s really no way to cash in your chips.

This is a superbly produced, albeit rather mournful, farewell album, at it’s core it’s pop punk but it’s been skilfully melded with other genres and influences to stop it being stuck in the predictable rut that so many pop punk bands find themselves mired in. However, for all the barrage of multi layered guitars, the skilful job that’s been done behind the desk and the anthemic choruses, this comes across as an an album that seems to be wallowing in self pity at Yellowcard‘s own passing. This raises the question, is this really the end? many bands have said their farewells over the years only to return a few years later, and this is an album that gives you the feeling that there is still unfinished business for Yellowcard.

Yellowcard can be purchased from Hopeless Records here