Versus You – Moving On

Luxembourg pop-punk outfit Versus You channels an early 00’s vibe that has been largely absent from the North American pop-punk resurgence of the past few years.  Rather than siding with the ever popular world of The Wonder Years and Fireworks, the European four-piece gives listeners a reason to rummage deep through their listening habits and dust off references to Treble Charger, Sum 41, and Unwritten Law.  That their latest full length, Moving On, frames those influences in such a positive light makes for an even bigger bonus.

A winning combination of quick catchy chords and front man Eric Rosenfeld’s gritty nasally pitch mesh nostalgically with choral “woahs” that make Moving On a particularly energizing listen.  Opener “When It All Goes Down” has all the markings of your favourite SR-71 tune ten years ago.  While not quite as obnoxious as the former, there’s a certain snotty attitude that those who lived it will undoubtedly appreciate.  The combination of clear-cut catchy chorus and simple forcefully riffs “On The Town” and “If The Camel Dies, We Die” make for the type of tunes that you used to throw on CD-Rs to impress your friends on the drive to the movie theatre.  Generally most songs are sonically comparable and offer little in terms of surprises, but a slight flux in tempo differentiates more casual offerings like “A Way With Words” from run-n-gun rattlers like “Kitchen-Sink Drama.”

Perhaps the biggest point of difference between Versus You and their juvenile brethren is their willingness to tackle more than mere trivialities.  For instance, “30 Pills,” a tale of the medical and psychological challenges of living with HIV, tackles the stigma of those living with the life-threatening disease.  While not necessarily the album norm, that these seasoned punks tackle more challenging topics is reflected in many instances of smart wordplay.

Versus You is remarkable in their adoption of a sound that most pop-punk bands have since left for dead.  The band doesn’t score many points for originality, but will definitely earn the ear of those looking for expert emulation of last decade’s most iconic pop-punk.  Together, the combination makes Moving On well worth checking out even for those less familiar with the source material.