Most of the time when a review says something sounds familiar it’s meant as an insult. Well, Postage is a new band but it sounds familiar…in all the right ways. It strikes those comfortable, familiar tones of singalong punk. It’s influenced by the classics. And while it has these elements we know and love, it’s also just fresh enough that it really hits with me.
The songs are structured around singalongs and vocal tradeoffs. In many ways the songwriting takes a street punk foundation, especially with the bass, and then rewrites the playbook by emphasizing emotion instead of anthem. It gets right into gear on opening track, “Paranoia,” balancing anger with more complex emotions, and keeps that tone for nine more songs. The tone is consistently upbeat and upfront, but no two songs sound alike, which is pretty impressive given the style of music and the fact that it’s their first album. (Members have played with Signal Lost, Male Patterns, and After the Fall.)
And while it sounds like positive music on the surface, a closer listen to the lyrics often gives a swift change of tone. While the singalong moments are there for enjoyment, there’s a seriously downer vibe bubbling under the surface. Yes, “80-85” and “Smitten” sound like posi-jams but sometimes the lyrics flip to an uglier side of the coin. “Return to Sender” hints at that right in the name (yes, the themes here often bounce between the mail and the music) and “Old Man” spells it out bluntly with a refrain of “Life’s too long.”
This follows the early punk playbook, leaning more melodic than hardcore, but with modern production that wavers tastefully between DIY sensibility and ear pleasing balance. Recommended for fans of straight up punk who are also into rough-around-the-edges power-pop and garage. Personal favorites include “80-85,” “Sharp,” and “Smitten.”
