Boys Night Out - Boys Night Out

The album starts and the first thing that hits me is the energy and the raw drawling melody of vocals. The second thing is how accomplished the band sounds, it's a self-confidence that shines through all of their songs that gives me the idea right away of a band who have made it. They are very much in the same kind of groove as universally loved Taking Back Sunday and I guess this is to expected considering this album producer did the same job for TBS.

The band sound like an interesting punk/rock hybrid with some pop influences, and they sound a lot like a medley of bands... New Found Glory, Millencolin, The Starting Line. This band come from the same mould and by using this tried and tested formula they sound pretty damn good. The vocals are what sets this band aside from those others because Conor Fraser and Jeff Davis (guitars as well as vocalist) work together in a very rock-y way and as such, there are some important differences with this band then the aforementioned.

They produce a rocking and rolling tune for number 7, 'Hey Thanks', and when compared against the poppy punky sound of number 1, 'Get Your Head Straight', it shows the bands talent lies across a range of different sounds. A song that really struck me was number 8, 'Fall For The Drinker', as the band goes for a serious, melodic tune that again shows their abilities as a Jack of all trades... a truly haunting chorus describing heavy alcoholism as the whole band takes up a slurring chant, almost something you might hear in a pub. It is definitely something you would expect the whole audience of a gig to know the words too and in minds eye I can truly see a surreal moment where the instruments stop and the crowd provides all the vocals... an awesome song.

The second half of the album is definitely heavier, almost like a pint of Guinness.. light and foamy at the top and as you go down it gets dreggy and heavy and soulful. I felt that emotion was missing from a lot of the poppy punky songs but this is definitely remedied with number 9, 'Apartment'. The upbeat tempo is maintained also in number 10, 'Reason Aint Our Long Suit', with some really slow and heavy vocals provided by Fraser.

The album is finished with haunting melodic vocals with 'It Wont Be Long' as the band again experiments with a really galling pub-chant style chorus with some truly heavy guitar. You can hear church bells in the background as well and amazingly, it works and it works well. I personally am amazed I haven't heard this band in the UK mainstream yet and I think I can agree with the aforementioned song.. mainstream? It Wont Be Long.

“Boys Night Out”
1. Get Your Head Straight
2. Swift And Unforgiving
3. The Push And Pull
4. Up With Me
5. The Heirs Of Error
6. Let Me Be Your Swearword
7. Hey, Thanks
8. Fall For The Drinker
9. Apartment 4
10. Reason Ain't Our Long Suit
11. It Won't Be Long

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