Joey Cape – Bridge

Joey Cape is one of today’s most underrated musicians. Over the past two decades, Cape has constantly kept himself busy. Whether it was defining a sound, style and attitude of early nineties skate punk inLagwagon (really, would Fat Wreck be the same without them?), slowing it down with Bad Astronaut, or covering radio hits with the punk rock super group cover band, Me First & The Gimme Gimmes, Cape was always doing something. Plus, in between that he moonlighted in a few other short lived outfits and even started a record label for a few years. Now he’s graced us with his first official solo release (not counting the split with No Use For A Name‘s Tony Sly from a few years ago) and he once again shows why he’s had such an important role in the punk rock community for the past two decades.

Now, this is far from being a Lagwagon record as it is much slower and is just Cape and his guitar. At the same time though, this is not Bad Astronaut either as it is much more energetic than that project. Instead, Bridge is a nice middle grown. An acoustic record with a slight pop sensibility held together by Cape‘s signature vocal style.

Looking at the record, five songs immediately stand out at you. They are: B side, Errands, Mission Unaccomplished, Memories and Landmines and No Little Pill. Sound familiar? Well, they should since they all appeared on Lagwagon‘s new EP, I Think My Older Brother Used to Listen To…. The realization that you’ve already heard almost half the record can be somewhat disappointing but in reality, it adds a little bit more to the record as opposed to taking away something.

All of Lagwagon‘s stuff are originally written on acoustic guitars and then transformed into the full fledge songs that we hear. On Bridge, Cape gives us a glimpse into the formation of the Lagwagon songs that we all love. Of course, they’re slower than the final versions but they also offer a different look at the songs. They sound drastically different, almost like a different song. If it wasn’t for the vocal harmony and lyrics, you’d be hard pressed to say it was the same song which makes all the songs on Bridge new in their own way.

Still, the best songs on the record do seem to be the half that didn’t appear on the Lagwagon EP. You get We’re Not In Love Anymore, a broken hearted love song where Cape offers one of the strongest vocal performances on the record. Canoe is a more depressing song with Cape singing at a lower registry and Who We’ve Become is one of the most endearing songs I’ve heard all year. Lyrics like I guess I rarely sleep enough or exercise to stay fit /and I don’t know how long I’ll live / but I enjoy every minute with you / cause I just like who you’ve become remind us of how good Cape can write. It’s even more evident on the fastest track, The Ramones Are Dead which is an ode to vinyl and mom and pop stores.

Bridge is another in a long line of solo records from prolific front men that came out this year; and it is once again another good one. A nice, soothing, and peaceful acoustic record from a musical icon.