aaamusic | On 06, Apr 2011

Transatlantic alt-rock, anyone? Now, before you all pack your bags to find less pretentious labels, let’s give Boldly Going Nowhere an ear, because what’s here is about as unpretentious and fun as indie punk gets these days. Hailing from the UK and sounding like California skate punks lifted into inner London, their brand of sunshine and teen angst shines out from the depths of alternative.

‘Dixies Dead’ is unashamed pop rock, so pop rock that the guitar distortion might in fact be made of crackling sugar. Infectious bouncy rhythms and feel-good gang vocals make up a real belter of a track, reminding me of the halcyon days of loving Jimmy Eat World’s brighter numbers. The riffs are simple three chords and the truth style stuff, but when backed up with stop-start pacing, phenomenal momentum, and a truly talented drummer, the track doesn’t so much leap out as cannon into the listener with a grin and giddy energy. I dare you to listen to the ska-flavoured palm mute hopskip intro without a whipcrack of excitement running into your moshpit miscles.

But Boldly Going Nowhere chose the other sample track well: in contrast, ‘Doctor Says’ shows a tender, quieter side to the band which is compared in my information email to Oasis, but which I found a bit more like the modern indie scene crossed with Foo Fighters. Tuneful, emotional vocals pour heart onto the sleeve in the melodic keyboard-driven verses of angst, but it all too happily unfurls into the glowing optimism of a full-on RAWK chorus. Well, with a stadium indie croon sitting in the sidelines, but far from limp balladry, this is propelled by meaty riffs amid the introspection, a restrained yet powerful drum smash, and above all, heart and soul.

Pop punk admittedly is no longer my forte, but when a band this good crash into my life, I can’t help but wish my 14-year-old self was around to hear these tracks. A fantastic blend of modern sound with good-times 70s rock and late 90s alternative attitude, their infectious sound blends well with both pop bursts and hopeful quietness. If you loved old Jimmy Eat World, if you love current rock hopefuls Dinosaur Pile Up (who share the tongue-in-cheek, good-humoured grunge mannerisms) you will undoubtedly find something to smile at here.

Author: Katie H-Halinski