The Starting Line Band • Page 18

I'd want at least a 5-6 song ep. Always ends too soon for me it needs a few more tracks.

 

I remember the chord progressions and rhythms really opening up possibilities. Especially songs like "Birds" and "Direction".

I wish the bass was a bit louder because of Kenny's nuances in his playing. Someone once described it to me as "It makes the chord progressions feel like they never end."

 

The songs on Direction are written so effortlessly well. There's a feeling like they just busted them out because they were in the groove.

The opposite is true of BOATS. I love that record, but you can tell they were having some growing pains during the writing session. They've been outspoken about how they were struggling to finish certain songs or how they were disappointed with the mixes. I remember Kenny saying he had a hard time getting through "The B-List", and you can just tell with all of those segues and parts going on way too long.

 

funny because I loved B List growing up

 

Yeah idk I don’t personally hear that in BOATS st all I think that record is as close to perfect as a pop punk record can get

 

BOATS >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

My point wasn't that it was a bad record by any means. It's one of my favorite pop punk records of all time. They were frustrated writing it (by their own admission), and some of the song structures just kind of keep going on and on. But that said, they still managed to make it work. It's great.

 

I know that you weren’t saying it was bad, I just never really took any of that away from the record personally. I actually have always felt more like some of the songs on Direction drag for me. Idk

 

I think Direction's song structures were more refined and simplified, but I can see why some people wouldn't like that as much (a little more repetitive and predictable). BOATS' songs kind of take you on a journey, but some of it feels unnecessary to me. Both great records with a lot of replay value though IMO.

 

way back when I went with my friend for a drive to pick up some furniture he'd bought on eBay. the only cd he had in his car was BOATS. we got lost (this was before GPS was everywhere) and got stuck in some traffic and it was night time. BOATS on repeat for about 3 hours and it never got old

BOATS FOREVER

 

Outro of Artistic License is what I live for

 

I think SILYMI might be the best pop punk record of all time. It revolutionized the genre and you can hear how big of an influence it was to other pop punk bands all throughout the 00's .

BOATS, in my opinion, is still their best record though, and the only thing I ever really still listen to from their catalogue.

 

direction was such a step up for these guys

 

Every one of the albums is even more amazing when you consider how old Kenny was at the time. Like how the fuck

Also, the outro on Artistic License, The B List and Photography are all the best endings possible of any songs

 

I’m still hooked on the demo version of Surprise that had the different bridge.

 

It always surprises me how young Matt Thiessen and him were when they respectively started out. Almost makes me jealous lol

 

I think it's for sure the best debut from a pop-punk band in the scene.

 

Anybody ever notice how much the first couple of seconds of Quitter sound like the first few seconds of Blinded by Third Eye Blind? I was listening this morning and now I can’t I unhear it

 

Of direction?

 

Haha, I’m a dummy and left out the song title. Edited my post, but I was referencing Quitter

 

I’ll have to listen to them back to back, I never thought of that

 

Son of a bitch, now I'll never unhear this! Like even the drums are almost identical.

 

Their most recent Instagram post announced that they’re playing both coasts of the Warped 25th anniversary fests

They also pointed out in the caption that it’s their 20th anniversary and there is “more to come”

 

yesss bring on a full US tour!

 

A tour would be fantastic but hoping for another short EP or something.

(I'm kind of speaking from a place of privilege though because whenever they have played shows in the last few years I can get to them easily, being in Jersey)