Review Summary: Honed for maximum impact
Following the warm reaction to their major label debut after signing to Fueled By Ramen, 37 Everywhere serves as the second jab of a 3-hit combo from Pennsylvania pop punk quartet Punchline, which would be followed two years later by their slightly more experimental full-length, Just Say Yes. Despite the negative connotations usually associated with sophomore efforts, 37 Everywhere is an improvement in virtually every way over its predecessor. It has a clear confidence and projects more focused energy, and for this reason it is perhaps justified in being the outfit's most enduring LP. The sound of the album evokes images of best friends sipping blue slushies on a hillside watching the sky turn from a radiant gold to a mellow orange. Of deep chats held with legs dangling over the coping of a half-pipe in a graffiti-covered skatepark. More or less, it represents the genuine fun factor that seemed to exude from the pop punk scene of the mid-aughts. There's a well-rounded and cleanly produced feel to the release that complements the themes well, and captures the exuberance so associated with the scene vibe of the era; preoccupations both angsty and emotional, but also heartfelt and boldly animated. Whilst it is perhaps slightly overshadowed in quality by its more mature successor, it is nonetheless a thoroughly enjoyable record and a vivid expression of poppy vibrancy.
There is an endearing fluidity to the album's flow and track progression that means every instance with a greater focus on emotionality feels earned. Right from the very beginning of the release, opener 'Flashlight' is a rip-roaringly infectious shout-along anthem with bubbly riffs and a catchy melody. It serves as an excellent mission statement for the album that is to follow, encapsulating the sound of 37 Everywhere's joyous lust for life whilst tinging it with the sensitivity more dominant on other cuts. 'Green Light' and 'Caller 10' further add to this kinetic flow, with the latter featuring a swaying chorus and well-judged interlude that builds into the composition's final movement. The bridge in this song is somewhat weak, but there is an oddly synchronised disparity present between the verses and vocal melody that eventually merge into the chorus, and it's a remarkably intuitive display of contradictive harmony. 'The Getaway' is also likeable, featuring a Brand New-esque opening riff and a precarious balancing act between light minimalism and brash maximalism that is well-considered and merges surprisingly smoothly with the singalong vibe throughout. On the occasions where the musicianship takes more risks, the songwriting itself is really allowed to shine through, as demonstrated by 'The Fake, The Snake, and the Birthday Cake'. The initially jarring vocal line is allowed to develop organically alongside the melody of the song, and the use of intermittent breaks in the riffing is smartly implemented and adds a real sense of flair. Similarly, 'How Could You' has an excellent vocal hook and a pleasant, twinkly melody, descending into a warm, poppy outro in the track's final movement.
Unfortunately, when pointed emotionality comes to the fore, on 'For The Second Time' and 'Exactly', for example, there is a distinct sense of underwritten musicianship on display. Throughout the majority of the release, the sense of vulnerability is offset by the more scrappy and punchy instrumentals, but when the pace slows and the pop rock sensibilities begin to seep into mix more noticeably, the formula is tainted a touch by losing a key component. The overt focus on the lyrics leads to them feeling a little shallow and mawkish, as they no longer have the driving rhythms and frenetic guitars as accompaniment. The issue with such jejune content is certainly not out of the ordinary for pop punk as a genre, but since the cumulation is so strong when all elements of Punchline's sound are in full effect, it is regrettable that these more restrained moments are not further developed to reproduce the magic in a more minimal way. A good demonstration of this is single release 'They Are Strong Hands', which is somewhat more stripped back than some of the album's other showstoppers, but remains exceptionally catchy with its relatable, positive themes, earworm chorus and driving bass riff that truly gets in the bones. Overall, the lyricism exhibited is the usual adolescent-hued brand of soulful sentimentality, coloured with a sweet self-referentiality and playful figurativeness. The vocal style suits these themes fantastically well, with a rousing tone and an assured blend of falsetto and amelodic warbling that aids the high-spirited, mischievous aesthetic appropriately. The schizophrenic style does occasional feel a little idiosyncratic when straying dramatically from the established mainline melodies of the songs, however, but this is a rare occurrence on the release.
The pop punk sound here most certainly has the 'pop' aspect as its main ingredient, with incessant catchy riffs, choruses and rhythms. The album feels like a complete project, with a clear beginning, middle and end that spur the sound onward through 11 sonically recognisable yet individually unique tracks. The album's few weaker moments are exonerated by the strength of the overall package, and the exhilarating nature of the main body of the record all but glosses over the occasional lapses with a gleeful grin. In essence, Punchline have managed to craft an album that is persistently upbeat yet loaded with outsider energy and angsty animosity- no mean feat, but it does result in moments of emotional shallowness, despite the sincerity of transmission. The soaring vocal performance only infrequently slips into awkwardness, but even where it does the vivacity of the instrumental backdrop is able to counter it, rendering such moments charming rather than irritating. Undeniably, 37 Everywhere is a tight, sparklingly produced package that, although sporadically cursed with a handful of pop punk clichés, is able to channel its colourful songwriting and polished production into an endearing, head-bobbing experience. It's like a refreshingly cool soft drink on a hot day- satisfying, effervescent, and hugely gratifying when downed in one go.
