SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE STORY SO FAR – I WANT TO DISAPPEAR IN THE USA

THE STORY SO FAR
I WANT TO DISAPPEAR IN THE USA
OAK GROVE RECORDS

There is something magical that happens when a band comes back from a lengthy hiatus. For modern pop punk legends The Story So Far, that tale of success transpired with their recent album, I Want To Disappear. After a six-year hiatus, the band would return to form by not just revisiting their pop-punk roots but by redefining them. Want to Disappear is not only a sonic mark of achievement for a band that has been doing this for over 17 years, but an artistic achievement of maturity.

So, when it came time to release I Want To Disappear In The USA, The Story So Far had to make every effort to impress and give a live performance album that is fitting of their return to form. I Want To Disappear In The USA is a highly impactful and emotional extension of an album that celebrates what other successful records leaned into in the past with staple themes of angst and heartbreak, while reaching towards the future that further embraces raw and impassioned performances of an album that beautifully dived into themes of grief, loss, and introspection without sacrificing the nuanced trimmings that made I Want To Disappear so personal and flawlessly memorable. I Want To Disappear In The USA impressively brings one into the feeling of small, sweaty venues and screaming fans belting out every lyric of each song, a feeling that few bands can re-create when it comes to releasing live albums. The Story So Far has accomplished this and more, transporting listeners to unforgettable moments that replicate being right there with them at the time of this recording. While I Want To Disappear was a masterclass of songwriting for the band’s career, this live version taps into something far more visceral and musically enchanting, entering the band’s unique and transcendent way with their connection to deeply emotional subjects and their fans. It may sound a bit biased to say this outright; however, if anyone thought the studio version of I Want To Disappear was fantastic, this live version will make one love these songs even more. Parker Cannon’s vocals have never sounded better against the phenomenal, high-octane signature and melodic instrumental energy of the rest of the band members, which balances out the band’s use of aggression with decadent and graceful execution. Listening to this live record, you feel something deep within your chest, somewhere between emotionally overwhelming and being blissfully happy all at once, to be a part of a defining moment of a band’s march to greatness.

Starting with the live version of Big Blind there is something deeply personal about the start of this record, not because it’s live, but because of how authentic it is to how deeply the band cares about their fans and how much the fans deeply appreciate the band’s return to the pop punk scene. Throughout these LA and Boston performances, the mixing of this album is incredible. While it is customary for any live album to have some sort of post-production and pitch correction to give the tracks that extra punch, it’s evident that The Story So Far made it a mission to keep their live energy crisp and locked in throughout. There is a point on this album in which The Story So Far performs “White Shores,” and vocalist Parker says, “There are many times I wish my father could see me, and one of those times is tonight.” Such a line captures the essence of what this album is all about, and it is these fleeting, intimate, and emotional moments of vulnerability that are perfectly captured on this live record.

I Want To Disappear In The USA is for every fan who has stuck with this band for the past 17 years. It’s a deeply intimate, nearly perfect representation of the tracks fans have grown to love off their new album and the classics in their music catalogue, showing that The Story So Far wanted to give their fans an unfiltered, prime live experience that showcases The Story So Far in all its glory. It will be hard to top an album like this, as this is the best the band has sounded in years, if it is even fair to say, better than I Want To Disappear and the love and dedication to their craft and fans show throughout. This live album is not just the standard issue of live recorded songs; it is an evolution that shows clarity and purpose. This live album shows that the California band has grown from being the angry kids they started as and so has their sound. Even with some of the older tracks on this record, it is clear the band has embraced a more sophisticated identity while still providing that emotional intensity the fans have come to love over the course of their journey as a band.

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