Too often I hear “this pop punk band would be great in 2002″ and every time I hear that I end up feeling a little upset because it’s like saying “if pop punk was cool today I’d listen to this band”. I guess pop punk is out of style for some people but thankfully there are bands trying to defend what it stands for, like Man Overboard. Man Overboard is a rather simple band with simple idea of how to play music – just keep it real. Keep it real and you will get real fans and create a strong bond between them and the band, where the fans mean as much to the band as the music means to the fans. And with such a standpoint, Man Overboard has proved real pop punk is still alive and well.
After signing to Run For Cover Records late last year, Man Overboard has been very active with releases that include a split with Transit, a christmas song called “Decemberism”, a digital ep called “Dahlia”, an acoustic ep called “Noise From Upstairs”, and a collection of old (“Hung Up On Nothing” EP) and unreleased songs called “Before We Met”. They haven’t taken a break, which is why everywhere you turn, Man Overboard is on everyone’s lips and playlist. Witha raw passionate DIY feeling to their music, they haven’t released a single bad song yet in my opinion. Which is why when I heard they would release their debut full length album on July 20th, I was ever so excited. The only concern I had was that they probably had more money now to use to make their sound 100% pristine in the studio, so I thought it might end up overproduced like so many other bands having great eps to later have a debut album that loses the sound that made them great in the first place.
Luckily, “Real Talk” doesn’t fall into that trap as Man Overboard have stayed true to themselves and their fans. They have only enhanced their sound, but without losing their touch. It’s still fast paced, well played punk rock but in a bit more matured, and when I say matured I mean song writing than some of the “Before We Met” tracks. “Real Talk” is a 33 minute long journey of how good pop punk with alternating vocals and sing-alongs should be played. And once again, there’s not a single bad song on this record. Every next song is as powerful as it’s predecessor and every instrument is used to the max. You can feel every drumbeat and guitar line just as well as Nik’s and Zac’s vocals, which are absolutely stellar in their own right.
The title track “Real Talk” is the first song to blast off this album witha high-tempo and aggressive approach which is an instant hit for me. With the high-pitched guitar in the background and alternating vocals there’s no wonder I fell in love with this one right away. The heavy drums contribute to the aggressive sound and I especially love the middle part of this song as it goes from heavy and fast to heavier and faster. Following are “World Favorite” and “Fantasy Girl” which have the beloved Man Overboard sound with tempo-changes, sing-alongs, and catchy melodies. I think either track could be break out songs because their choruses are sure to hook absolutely everyone in.”Bruised Up” departures a bit from the rest of “Real Talk” as it is a fast punk rock song with the music being the center of attention and not the vocals, where the drums and guitars are what you notice first and then vocals. It feels more like the old kind of punk but with the little twist that only Man Overboard can pull off, in other words it’s another awesome song.
The middle of the record doesn’t stray away from the awesomeness at all, as “Darkness, Everybody” and “She’s Got Her Own Man Now” deliver more of the same dual vocals and catchy hooks that you have come to expect by now. I must say that this record offers up some of the best alternating vocals since Taking Back Sunday’s 2002 classic “Tell All Your Friends”. “Al Sharpton” is just as kickass as it’s title. It has the fast paced drumming and commanding guitars that underscore the chorus “I pretend that I’m already someone and all my problems faded away, whoa oh oh oh…”. I have a feeling this one is going to be blast to play and sing-along with at their shows. Rounding out the middle, “Montrose” is a good example that proves they haven’t changed their sound much at all on this record because it sounds exactly like it did on “Dahlia”, just a bit more polished, and I’m perfectly fine with that.
The album ends just the way it started — with a bang. Everyone is going to love “FM Dial Style”, it sounds like a good song to play when you are with your girlfriend or boyfriend, so I think many people are going to enjoy it. It’s hard to pick a favorite song from this record because honestly they are all great but “I Like You” is the song that gives me goosebumps when they sing the “Im finally! layin somewhere where I’m happy that I’m here…” up to “I’m in it for the long hall!”. Any song that can bring in the goosebump factor is perfect for me just as “Arlington Drive” and “Dear You” have given me in the past. “Septemberism” is another solid song that is on the RFC Spring Sampler but love the intensity of the chant “I hate you, you shoulda picked up the phone tonight!”. The last song on the record is “Sidekick”, a ballad and is a perfect ending to a perfect album. If you listened to the acoustic ep “Noise From Upstairs” you’ll know what kind of ballad I am talking about. The gentle acoustic music making room for the passionate vocals and where the lyrics flows from your headphones into your veins and making you sing along to “We could be untouchable” chorus and making you feel like your in the band, like you’re in the studio making this song and singing it. That’s another talent Man Overboards possess making you feel like you’re one with the music. Having “Real Talk” as a perfect opener “Sidekick” is just as perfect to end this album.
I fell in love with each and every song on “Real Talk” as they all are different yet they all are pop punk, but different as some are heavy, some are more old-school and some are modern. I’m glad there are still bands out there defending pop punk, staying true to music and the fact this band is like a machine pumping out song after song and still sounds original and unique is beyond amazing. They can’t get enough of making music and I can’t get enough listening to their music, this is Real Music this is Man Overboard’s Real Talk. Score: 9/10
