Labels: Jump Start Records
Review by: Oli Saunders
Noise By Number’s first album ‘Yeah, Whatever…’ was a bit of a gem in my opinion, taking pop punk and mixing it with, well, pop, but in an effective manner, something which is not easy to do. It’s tough comparing the band’s sound with anyone to be honest – a lot of the Screeching Weasel related bands have pushed pop punk in original directions and this is the case here. David Giles reviewed the first album and compared them to early Green Day but, whilst I see hints, I don’t think it’s a strong comparison.
This second album continues Noise By Numbers sound but is less punk than its predecessor. On a first listen I was disappointed but now on a second listen I am coming round to it. It is sort of uplifting despite lyrical themes focusing about being frustrated with things. The album plods along at quite a slow pace and gets a little samey, but holds its own overall. By no means an essential purchase but the band have come up with something interesting here at the very least.
25th September 2011