Mayday Parade - 'Sugar' Album Review

2 minutes ago
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Tracklist:

1. Set Phasers To Bummed

2. Blame It On The Youth

3. Sweet Sad Sugar

4. Weekend Music

5. Lying To Myself

6. Two Hearts

7. Don't Give Up On Me

8. Patriotism of First Tiger Called Into Question

9. So The Story Goes

10. What Happens Next

Florida pop-punk icons Mayday Parade are back with tenth album 'Sugar', the conclusion to their trilogy of albums and their 20th anniversary celebrations, released on July 24th via Many Hats Endeavours.

Intro ''Set Phasers To Bummed' blends nicely into 'Blame It On The Youth', a high energy pop punk anthem that sets the album up nicely with its thought provoking, catchy lyrics provided, as always, by Derek Sanders. It reminds me of their earlier records, which is certainly no bad thing. The anthemic feel is definitely amped up in the final chorus, leading us perfectly into the next song.

'Sweet Sad Sugar' slows things down a tad in the intro, but picks the pace back up once it gets into the first verse, this time feeling like mid-2010s pop punk. The lyrics are once again introspective and melancholic, counterpointed by Jake Bundrick's frantic drumming holding everything together. Alex Garcia and Brooks Betts' guitars are crunchy, and Jeremy Lenzo's bass is very understated, following the typical pop punk nostalgic formula, but I certainly wouldn't say this track is formulaic and average.

Lead single 'Weekend Music' really taps into the emotional honesty that's been so prevalent over the band's 2 decade career. The instruments remain mostly upbeat, balancing out Sanders' vocals and lyrics really well. It's definitely more of a singalong melancholy, and almost becomes reminiscent of a Yellowcard track in places, with the violin sounding guitar riffs and harmonies in the final third really driving home the feel of William Ryan Key and co.

'Lying To Myself' takes the pace down, feeling more traditionally melancholic before building with cathartic guitars into the chorus. Once again, the lyrics are extremely honest and absolutely heartbreaking, and would make for one hell of a listen while going through a breakup.

'Two Hearts' maintains that slower pace, with an even more introspective, muted sound. It's Mayday Parade doing what they've always done best, conjuring memories of songs like 'Jamie All Over' and 'Miserable At Best' from their debut, but through eyes that have 20 years more experience, funneling all that emotion into the track.

'Don't Give Up On Me' is more triumphant and defiant, sounding more optimistic and upbeat while still maintaining that emotional quality. The instrumentation is big and brash, as is Sanders' voice while belting out the song title.

'Patriotism of First Tiger Called Into Question' maintains the optimism in the instrumentation, which is then echoed in a way by the vocals, with a massive theme of self acceptance while facing bleak circumstances. I have a feeling this one is going to make it into heavy rotation at their concerts, having all the markers of a classic Mayday Parade track, especially with the introduction of the piano line.

Penultimately comes 'So The Story Goes', bringing the mood back down in the typical MP fashion, while still maintaining an energy that so many bands struggle to capture, helped along by Lenzo's consistent bassline, and the once again anthemic bridge, with a chorus of soaring vocals over an unexpected, equally soaring guitar solo, providing a phenomenal, emotionally charged crescendo to bring us to the closing track.

'What Happens Next' finishes the album on the most emotional point. You know for a fact that if a Mayday Parade track starts with piano, you're in for a rollercoaster of sadness. The vocal harmonies play beautifully with the piano, with Sanders' voice giving a phenomenal performance, before the rest of the band comes crashing in for a spectacular climax to the record, and indeed the trilogy.

Mayday Parade may be one of the most consistent bands in the scene, remaining true to themselves over 2 decades in something that is certainly no mean feat, and that consistency applies to their music too. 'Sugar' sounds like it could have been released at any point in their career in the best way possible, and it is certainly up there with the best of their discography. In fact, I'm pretty sure it will be mentioned in the same breath as 'A Lesson In Romantics', at least in my opinion anyway.