Album Review: SPORTS - All of Something
By Carly Preston, Contributor
[Father/Daughter; 2015]
Rating: 4.5/5
Key Tracks: “Stunted,” “Get Bummed Out,” “Washing Machine”
SPORTS’ sophomore effort, All of Something, was recorded one year ago by the five Kenyon College students that make up the band, but was recently released this past Halloween night. After graduating in the spring, four of the group’s members left Gambier, Ohio, making this record the last hurrah for the power pop group.
On their first album, Sunchokes, many fell in love with the band’s youthful power pop sound and vocalist Carmen Perry’s twangy-yet-aggressive voice. All Of Something takes that beloved pop aggression and allows it to mature into something special. The dueling guitars are catchy and light, and the lyrics cut deep, especially for the college-age listener.
The album starts with “Stunted,” a track that perfectly encompasses what any band’s last album should sound like. As the pace and sound pick up, Perry comes in with “So this is where everything leads / You can’t pretend that you’re nothing to me,” a lyric with the potential to send chills up the spines of anyone who ever sought the attention of those impossible to reach.
As the record transitions into the first single, “Saturday," a groove characteristic of Sunchokes is established, kicking the rest of the album into high gear. Of course, some tracks shine more than others; “Reality TV," “Town” and “Clean Socks” are a few examples, but every song adds another piece to the central theme of the record--how and why things come to an end. Still, the clear standout track is “Get Bummed Out,” due to Perry’s almost country-like yell and lyrics that could bring tears to the eyes of even the most cold-hearted listener.
All of Something ends with “The Washing Machine,” which seems cohesive with the rest of the album’s tone up until the last minute, when the band begins to mash up snippets of Sunchokes songs. This simple, yet clever element will make any listener realize how missed SPORTS and their unique style will be. Due to its one-of-a-kind sound and lyrical prowess, All of Something is sure to be a staple of the playlists of punk and pop fans alike into the not-so-near future.
