WE ARE THE MOVIES-GET BUSY LIVING…

Pop-Punk has been my drug of choice for as long as I can remember. And as far as I can tell it always will be. I recently watched a video about James Alex, the lead singer of Beach Slang. The video is called, A Portrait of Beach Slang, A Punk Who Never Grew Up. Basically it is about what the title says. James Alex is in his 40s and by society’s standards he should have given up on punk rock years ago but he has not. It is what he knows, it’s what makes him, him. I’ve never played in a band. I go to lots of shows. And that is how I feel. Punk rock is life for me. And over the past few months I have come to enjoy a band from here in Columbus, OH. That band is We Are The Movie. Seeing this band live takes me back to 2002, when I was really deep into my local scene back in Valdosta, GA. All I did was work and go to shows and class when I could get up. I spent many a night singing my heart out 20-30 other people and that was the greatest thing. That is the feeling I get when I see We Are The Movies live.

The one thing I have a question about is where has this band been? Why haven’t I heard of this band until a few months ago? No one told me about them. A band this talented needs to be heard and seen. If I had known about them sooner I would have been a fan sooner. But let us not dwell in the past, let’s get to this EP.

Get Busy Living….. is the second release from this Columbus, OH pop punk unit. And judging from what I heard on this EP it will not be the last. I first heard this band live so that’s what I had to go on. I knew I liked them live, so I was curious if they had music out. I learned they had an EP already out and was about to release this one. Perfect timing. I listened to the first to familiarize myself with the songs. Then a few days later I received a copy of Get Busy living…... I can honestly say I listened to it for a week straight and I’m still listening to it as I type this.

One of the first things that stood out to me were the song titles themselves. A few of them remind me of bands I grew up with, bands that shaped my musical tastes and also theirs. For instance track 2 is called “story so far”, no I don’t think of that awful band, I think of New Found Glory, then there is track 4, “The Best Revenge Is Living Well”, this brings to mind Midtown, whom has an album called, “Living Well is the Best Revenge”. I don’t believe these are coincidences, these are bands that have influenced these guys. And I love it.

Next up is the music itself. This goes back to above, this is a pop punk band that has been influenced by a different generation of bands than most that we hear nowadays. Pop-punk bands that are coming up now cite bands like The Wonder Years, Man Overboard, Citizen and The Story So Far. That is not the case here. I hear Simple Plan, Midtown, NFG, The Movielife and bands from that era in this music. That in itself is a change. One that this writer welcomes with open arms.

Can we talk about the lyrics for a second? If you have read any of my reviews, then you know I’m big on lyrics. I like emotions, I like to feel. Pop-punk bands will always write about girls, hometown, and feelings. Were these guys differ is how they say it. It’s more mature, simply because they have experience, this is a veteran band and it shows. One of my favorite lines is,” If St. Nick is real can he bring me a gift like the tinman so I can feel?” from the track, “Happy Ex-mas (war is over). That line alone had me feeling all sorts of ways.  The standout track is “Temporary”. This is also my second favorite song to hear live. I really can relate to this one. There is a line that goes, “I thought that by now that this reflection of me would be lost in my sleep but I’ve got this sinking feeling I should be better than this. WHAT!!!! Man that hits home. The emo kid in me comes out of hiding when he hears that. One of the great things about music is how we can relate to it. I love knowing that I’m not the only one that feels a certain way or that I’m not as messed up as I think I am. And the fact that others sing this together in unison is great. That is community. How many times have we all said I hate the person I’ve become? If so go listen to “By a Thread” I know there have been times in my life that I have been hanging by a thread. And you know one of the things that helped bring me back? Yep, it was music. I have a feeling this band can be that band for so many people.

Overall this is one of the best pop-punk albums I’ve heard in a long time. And I’m excited for their future. If you a minute or four, I would highly suggest giving this a listen.

4.7/5

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