When I was asked to write a review for the band Let Me In’s debut album, The Bag and they were categorized as an Italian pop/punk band I was a bit intrigued.
One thing that jumps at the listener from the start of the record is that these guys know how to rock. Italy isn’t known for producing pop-punk bands but that should change once this album hits. The Bag is packed full of sound; the drum mix alone is worth the price of admission.
The first two songs on the album, “B.L.S. Basic Life Support” and “Promised Land,” set the pace of the album: fast and furious with the aforementioned drum tracks leading the assault.
“Three Chord Theory” is another pop-punk gem with lyrics reminding the listener that “winners never quit” and “my future is coming and I won’t be late.” “Just Beyond Reach (How I Learned To Love The Bomb)” and “Old House” are a raucous romp of fat power chords, and both songs remind me of earlier pop-punk bands like All American Rejects, Blink, and Motion City Soundtrack.
“The Parasite” starts off quietly and transitions into a full-throttle rocker. The percussion sets the tone in this tune and doesn’t let up. My favorite tune on the album is “Swallowtail Butterfly.” With lyrics like “Cobain will mix us LSD mojitos and with giant bugs we’ll slow-dance,” how can you go wrong? This song also features some great harmonies in the refrain, and is also included on the album in Italian as “Amare Serate Amare.”
The title song, “The Bag,” along with “66cl Frustration Can” and “Bullethead,” show the band’s versatility and musical breadth, and give some acoustic treatments. And the final song—simply titled “The Greatest Song Ever”—doesn’t’ state that the song is literally the greatest; rather, they are lyrically asking for help from some of their punk heroes in creating such a song. The tune starts off slow and after the first verse kicks it in the ass and just flat out rocks. All in all this album is a great debut.
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