I'm not sure what's happening to me in middle age. I used to find samples clever and a nice change-of-pace technique on albums. But lately I feel like they interrupt instead of compliment what I'm hearing.
This Isn't What I Ordered starts off really strong with fast, melodic and personalized punk over the first few songs. Then the sound clips start coming and it just sort of...loses its sizzle. Truth be told, I don't think it's the soundclips' fault though. I think it's a bigger issue of sequencing and I feel like this review is getting too harsh because the album has lots more bangers on it. It just feels like it grabs my attention, then loses it and recaptures it again instead of providing one, continuous experience. Part of this is likely that, while I always appreciate a multi-vocalist band, I definitely prefer the voice of one of the singers of The Went Wrongs over the other. I do think the live quote and car radio samples pull me out of the moment a little.
The Went Wrongs remind me of what I was listening to 10-15 years ago: melodic, personal punk like Banner Pilot and New Bruises, though both of those bands are a little cleaner in sound, so I'll add references to Dillinger Four and The Dauntless Elite. What separates The Went Wrongs is there is an authentic rawness to their sound. The production captures it well, and it carries through in the raspy vocals and gritty guitar tones. The drums give a booming energy in "Pissing In A Dirty River."
While I keep saying "melodic," the band mixes it up between call-and-response structures, alternating vocalists between songs, and using more narrative and flowing lyrics. While I'm willing to wager that their songwriters like the Ramones, this isn't repetitive over the 11-song span of the record. Ultimately, This Isn't What I Ordered is high-energy music, often about low emotional moments. It's a pick-me-up after a bad day.
