Margate – Beards In Paradise

Los Angeles pop-punks Margate have gradually built their reputation around perseverance and hard work.  During their ten year career they haven’t been the highest profile band to come out of the area, but furthered their reputation when they jumped on board with Cyber Tracks a few years back.  Having started as a quieter sounding band in their early days (comparisons to Motion City Soundtrack and American Steel), the band has since followed the melodic punk rock path to their place alongside labelmates Ten Foot Pole and Implants.  Their latest full length, Beards In Paradise, continues that trend with ten tracks that fly by in just over twenty minutes. 

Margate rolls out a safe assortment of mid to fast paced pop-punk with a smart blend of humour in keeping up momentum.  “Want It All” feels largely inspired by Lagwagon in its quick delivery and nasally vocals, whereas “From The Start’s” smoother, backing “ahhhhs” take a more melodic approach in the vein of various EpiFat staples.  During times like “I’m Your Density,” quick wit and blistering hooks make for forty second of memorable skate-punk circa NOFX or No Use For A Name.  “Rock Out With Your Clock Out” gets the formula just right by stringing along the playful chorus, “It’s an hour and half till freedom, too bad it feels like three,” infusing more tasteful humour with a great tempo and long lasting three-part harmonies.  Likewise, “Crowd Goes Mild”’s tongue in cheek attitude taps into the woes of an unpromoted tour stop that leaves a crowd void of fans and Margate having to “dig down deep” when the floor suddenly gets vacant (this would be amazing to listen to under those circumstances).  These familiar moments never push the envelope, but are respectfully inspired by a now classic brand with love and care.

But the results aren’t always home runs.  For instance, “Keep Dancin” feels much more like a swing and a miss.  Feeding on a little old school Ramonesy guitar simplicity with a bit of a retro vibe, the tune just doesn’t launch as readily as it should.  The same can be said about title track “Beards in Paradise,” which finds Margate trying their hand at a little pop-punk infused ska.  Instead of switching things up, the tale of chill’n lazy day L.A. lifestyle comes across gimmicky and flat (the halfhearted upstroke doesn’t really fit Margate).  However, straying from the path pays off the most is with “Never Know,” which channels the likeable essence of a Joey Cape acoustic track as a pleasing contrast to the bulk of Beards In Paradise’s rapid tempo.

 Margate definitely has one foot in at least a few worlds, and for the most part, it works.  A few missteps aside, Beards in Paradise is a solid dose of straight up melodic pop-punk.  Even if Margate comes across a little paint-by-numbers, the good far outweighs the bland.