No Idea have cranked out solid records for years. They rarely release a dud. But I can’t quite think back to the last LP they released that blew me away. Young Livers debut release “the New Drop Era” means I don’t have rely on my memory quite so much.
This is an excellent album. It rolls out of the gates with the blitzkrieg of “the Small Hours”, all sinewy guitars and rollocking groove, bringing to mind a sweet combination of Drive Like Jehu and Hot Water Music (that’ll be the gruff vocals and the bass rumble). Of course, pretty much every band on No Idea sounds a bit like Hot Water Music, but Young Livers manage to take on that influence and not just spit out another LP of generic Gainesville punk.
This 8 track LP rockets through in 20 minutes, so has no chance to outstay it’s welcome. It manages to tack on emo elements in a more pleasing way than the Army of Ponch album from a few years back. The music is tight, members previously did time in Glass and Ashes and Spirit Assembly, so you know you’re not going to get a bunch of loose, messiness.
Overall, I am most definitely impressed, “the New Drop Era” is a quality album of melodic hardcore punk, and if you’d found yourself drifting away from No Idea of late, this one may just reel you back in.