The Story So Far - ‘I Want To Disappear’ review
The Story So Far by Eric Soucy
After six long years since their last album, Californian pop-punk legends The Story So Far have blessed us with a fresh dose. The album, appropriately titled I Want To Disappear, comprises ten anthems embodying the emotively frenetic tuneage that’s led the band to success.
It bursts into action with one of the album’s preliminary singles “All This Time”. Parker Cannon’s vocals strike immediately, quenching the thirst for high and strained tones coated in angst. Below, the instrumentation remains as tight as ever with overlapping clean guitars backed by drums that vary in rhythm and pace. It’s a highly explosive introduction.
Venturing into unfamiliar territory, we’re met with the short but sweet “Watch You Go”. Everything about this tune packs a high-octane punch, from the incessant verses to the stirring lyrics of the pre-chorus; “I get it if you hate me/I’m barely here lately/distant and lazy/lacking motivation”. Although new, this one feels inherently The Story So Far, proving that time has not blunted their edge.
“Letterman” and “Keep You Around” offer more reflective moments. While still delivering a huge impact, both tracks come in lighter with slower tempos and instrumentals that allow the solemn words to cut deep. Take your time with these.
Next up is “Jump The Gun”, which boasts massive vocal hooks mimicked by the guitars through lovely call-and-response phrases. The balance between the verses and choruses is satisfying as each part progresses in snappy succession, not too long nor short. This is one songwriting feature that the band consistently nails.
The album’s final single, “Big Blind”, stands out in multiple ways. Sonically, it’s a blast with upbeat and happy-go-lucky instrumentals that simply make you want to dance. While, lyrically, the use of playing card terms to metaphorise relationship strains is captivating; “if you wanna play cards, you better be careful/you put up the hearts, and I’ll put up both my aces”. The concept is unique and paints an endearing picture.
It wouldn’t be a The Story So Far album without an inescapable tear-jerker. And, luckily for us, this one has two.
The penultimate track, “White Shores”, possesses a stunning poignancy that sees the band’s emotional intelligence meet their flawless compositional abilities. It starts with a delicate acoustic riff that’s soon joined by Cannon’s melancholic vocals. The melodies are soft and enchanting, revelling in a blue darkness that so many of us find ourselves lost in.
If that doesn’t yet have you drowning in your own tears, the closing track will. “I Want To Disappear” is certainly deserving of that title; the combination of finger-picked guitar and isolated vocals encapsulates the image of someone longing to leave without a trace and may just leave you wanting to do so too. From such a punchy start, this album couldn’t end on a vibe so far from it.
The level of variation is striking in this album, in comparison to some of the band’s earlier works such as Under Soil And Dirt, in which it’s all “go” all of the time. I Want To Disappear maintains this characteristic – after all, it’s the thing that has brought The Story So Far such dedicated fans and international acclaim. However, they are maturing, along with their listeners, and that’s a commendable asset to this album.
After six long years since their last album, The Story So Far have blessed us with a fresh dose, and it was undoubtedly worth the wait.
I Want To Disappear from The Story So Far is out 21 June via Pure Noise Records and available on all good streaming platforms.
