Farewell Continental – ¡Hey, Hey Pioneers!

Even successful musicians get bored from time to time.  If not, they would never engage in the age old practice of side projects and collaborations.  While collaborations are nothing new, few artists engage in the art of the uncredited, “secret” side project.  Green Day is one of the most self indulgent in this regard, leaving speculators scratching their heads during their brief electro-punk phase (The Network) and while they explored the 60’s under the Foxboro Hot Tubs moniker.  While both curious diversions, neither had staying power to survive beyond one disc.

Curiously, the latest “secret” side project to make headway has been Justin Pierre’s (Motion City Soundtrack) foray into shoegaze with Farewell Continental.  Unlike most secrets that get blown well before they’ve had time to fester, Farewell Continental managed to release two EPs without raising much suspicion, although speculators nailed at least one credit by the second release.  Even so, Pierre was smart, and while his soft tones were clear on the album, he also enlisted the vocal aid of female companion Kari Gray.  Coupled with a catchy garage-pop sound, the group demonstrates purpose beyond deception, and a justifiable premise more than a self-indulgent side project.

The quintet’s key to success really rests in the delicate dance of Pierre and Gray’s intertwined voices.  Pierre is as upbeat as ever, his smooth voice gliding between octaves and changing key with a steady pitch.  Meanwhile Gray jumps in with her sugar coated cuteness, sharing lines, sentences, and at times just words.  Tracks like “Capybara” and “New Tile Floor” make strong arguments for the pairing, just begging references to Lemuria and Mixtapes.  A personal favourite comes in the echoed line of emptiness “I’m so alone, like a comatose with no emotion” and the snarky followup “I’m so alone, like a suicidal with great devotion” – these two could write a sob story and it would still evoke a feel good essence.  Speaking of which, “New Tile Floor” also takes the place as the album’s “sad” song, but even that’s easy to hum in tune with.  The album might hold a spring release date, but these are summer songs best played on sunny days.

One welcomed retention Pierre carries over from Motion City Soundtrack is his knack for imagery.  For such a bubbly, innocent sound, every word holds poetic purpose (I highly recommend looking up the lyrics). Metaphors, popular references, and cheeky comments abound with each new listen, keeping lines fresh and frivolous.  For proof of their mastery look no further than their expert deployment of age-old nursery rhymes.  The band drops in a hopeful “I wish I may, I wish I might” on “A Story From The Bottom Of The Sea,” and lightheartedly inserts “I never called you a liar, I never set your pants on fire” during “Immolated.”  On “Radio, Radio: Are You Getting This?” they even offer a spoken word commentary about industry trends – and while you might have heard similar words exchanged, Pierre’s take lives up to his regular entertaining standard.

While a grain of vocal continuity binds the album tightly, each track isn’t without its own distinct charm.  Take “Who’s The Boss”’s evolving layers and multiple vocal and audio distortions.  Every slice bends and melts with expert cohesion and knowhow.  The black sheep of the album surfaces on “A Story From The Bottom Of The Sea” with what must be some guest vocals taking the lead.  They’re deep, commanding, and unlike anything else on the record – or for that matter, anything associated with Motion City Soundtrack.  Moments like these make clear why Pierre felt the need to launch Farewell Continental.

I’ll admit, it’s going to be a challenge for Motion City Soundtrack to outperform Farewell Continental on ¡Hey, Hey Pioneers!  While Motion City Soundtrack has made my year-end list for everything they’ve done over the past five years, Farewell Continental feels like the rebirth I didn’t realize I was waiting for.  ¡Hey, Hey Pioneers! is pop-punk perfection that will dominate the summer months.