The Measure [sa] – One Chapter in the Book: A Collection of Standard Waits and Measurements

Thank you No Idea Records and The Fest. If it wasn’t for their compilation to promote the recent festival, I never would’ve heard The Measure [SA]‘s Drunk By Noon and despite all the hype I had heard about them, I’m not sure if I ever would’ve checked them out. But they were on that compilation and I heard it and I was in awe. That two minute song convinced me, I needed to hear more by them and so I got their recently released collection One Chapter in the Book: A Collection of Standard Waits and Measurements and even though it didn’t have Drunk by Noon on it,I still fell in love with their pop-punk sound and Lauren Measure’s unique, soft spoken vocals.

Featuring eighteen songs from seven different releases (and one unreleased track), A Chapter In The Book is a look back at the extensive catalogue of seven inches that the band has under their name already. Re-mastered to fit together, the collection feels more like a lengthy full length that works as a great introduction to the band (if you are new to them) or a great recap of their career thus far (if you’re already a fan).

The record starts off with the bouncy Portland, a song that doesn’t immediately jumps out but lays out the ground work for what you’ll be hearing for the next seventeen songs. High energy, infectious pop-punk with catchy female vocals held together by a distinctive twang and some pop-sensibilities. Their sound, style and structure bares an undeniable similarity to Dance Hall Crashers just without such a strong ska rhythm. Instead they go for power chords and background vocals to round out the sound.

Songs like Union Pool, Fourth Of July or the thirty-two second Wreckage all showcase the band’s skill alongside Lauren’s catchy and unique vocals which showcase her autobiographical lyrics. The songs, at times, have a simple, almost folk-like feel to them but delivered with a sense of urgency, speed and pop-punk harmonies. At times they sound like a fuller version of The New Dress (in fact, they cover The New Dress‘ Murderous Bugs with Giant Needle Knives here too).

The odd thing about this record is Old Crow, but it’s odd in a good way. As Lauren’s vocals are often the highlight and one of the elements that makes The Measure [SA] stand out, I can’t help but fall in love when they decide to contrast it against Marco Reosti’s vocals like they do in Old Crow. The duet works together so beautifully and I can’t help but imagine how awesome their songs could be if they always alternated vocalists; however, I’m sure if they did that, it would lose some of its charm.

Unfortunately once they pass their New Dress cover, the final five songs pass by relatively unnoticed. They’re not bad but neither are they immensely memorable which makes them feel almost like filler. That is the problem with collections, sometimes they run a little long.

Still, One Chapter is an honorable collection of songs and I can’t wait to hear more from The Measure [SA] in the upcoming years.