Socratic – Spread the Rumors

Having grown up on Drive-Thru Records artist, the label holds a soft spot in my heart. I’m always excited to see what they’ll come up with next and have faith in the Reines’ selection in bands. As of late, both mine and the Reines’ taste in music have changed making it so I’m no longer as anxious to hear the latest Drive-Thru release. Still, I always check it out with high hopes of it being the next New Found Glory or something similar. In 2005, when Socratic released their DTR debut, Lunch For The Sky, they didn’t recreate the label’s wonder years. However, there was potential in the piano tinged pop-punk of the album. When they announced that Mark Hoppus (Blink-182/+44)was on board to produce the band’s follow-up, Spread The Rumors, I wanted to hear it.

Sadly, Spread The Rumors fails to capitalize on either the potential laid out for it with Lunch For The Sky or having Hoppus at the helm.

Instead, Socratic have given us a record that is a little too polished and pop-heavy. They’ve left behind the slight Something Corporate influence and have gone for a more pop-driven sound akin to The Rocket Summer mixed with the latest pop-emo acts like Mayday Parade or All Time Low. The album feels a little too safe and overtly pop-oriented. It makes it so that while there isn’t anything outright nauseating about the mix, there isn’t anything to truly captivate the listener either. Besides, their whimsical attempt at comical lyrical delivery sounds like a watered down Hellogoodbye; something which was surprising since the lyrics were one of the highlights of Lunch For The Sky.

The record is dotted with a few memorable tracks, like the incredibly infectious opener Boy In A Magazine and cheery anti-love song May I Bum A Smoke; but those infectious moments tend to be too few and far between. Despite using the same general writing structure, many of the other songs pass by unnoticed. A few lines or a chorus here and there will jump out but for the most part Spread The Rumorssounds all too familiar and generic. The one time they truly deviate from their writing style turns out to be the strongest track on the record. The acoustically led Long Distance Calls sees Vincent D’amico taking over lead vocal duties, something which right away sticks in the mix, but also has a less polished toned to it. The story of an American family destroyed by divorce after divorce is the most serious track on the record and has a more distinct tone to it – all of which works to make it a song that I would happily share with friends.

But as a record as a whole, Spread The Rumors is just too safe to really be memorable. It straddles the curve of many trends, from piano pop to whiny emo, and merges them all together for a slightly entertaining but ultimately forgettable record. Sadly, a few decent songs is not enough to keep the whole album afloat.