Spontaneo – For Those Who Can Whistle

Considering Pennsylvanian indie label Modern Short Stories’ lineage (the label is run by Punchline’s Steve Soboslai and Chris Fafalios), that the young upstart picked up hometown sharing pop punkersSpontaneo as one of their first signings should come with little surprise.  In fact, the quartet shares the same freshness of character and charm that initially put Punchline on the map, as well as bringing to mind a slew of other likeminded bands.  And better yet, Spontaneo’s debut full length, For Those Who Can Whistle, does all those lofty comparisons justice.

Fittingly, the album opens with “A Map And A Car,” the very track that initially sold Fafalios on signing the band.  A vocal heavy offering with plenty of tempo tweaks that maintain momentum throughout, the track sustains an engaging direction without ever taking away from its message.  Diego Brynes sings “last night I saw you in a dream, can somebody please tell me what that means?” as part of a thought provoking monologue.  Unlike many of today’s leading pop punkers, Brynes sounds like he has a reason to speak, naturally giving listeners a reason to tune in.

The rest of the album follows suit, but most tracks go even further, always offering something unique in their own right.  For instance, the ending passage of “My Valentine” plays like a Matt Skiba writtenAlkaline Trio song, with lines like “you made me fall from the night sky/that night you ripped out my insides/I guess that’s what happens when worlds collide” having a dark metaphoric quality.  Other tracks, like “Losing A Limb,” take a harder, angrier note – even the bass feels meaner, with Brynes bordering on screaming for a brief dip into the pool of post-punk.  Even the prototypical, borderline sappy ballad, “All Of The Above,” comes across genuine, with its acoustic guitar echoing alongside distant backing vocals for what almost sounds like a live set, bestowing a true strength of character.  And finally the album ends with the lofty melodies, and far reaching cries of “New Tears” – which serves as a final showcase for balance, and a fantastic showcase for Bryne’s vocal range.  Sometimes he’s delicate and introverted, others he puts it all on the line – in many ways he’s like a combination of Falios and Motion City Soundtrack’s Justin Pierre, hotly energetic, but also coolly refined.

While there are trace amounts of filler from time to time (“Mayday Mayday” and “Nature Of The Game” are eclipsed by stronger tracks), these minor blemishes only stand to be corrected with time and wisdom, the later which Spantaneo already demonstrates.  A rare find for a band this early in what is sure to be a fruitful career; Spontaneo never overdoes it with the hooks, always filling chorus and verse with a welcoming lyrical sensitivity.  A debut sure to leave listeners craving more.