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Adding to that, the cheerful melodies often credibly sang about the doubts or longings of people who feel constrained in their average lives, which convinced me as a listener beyond the stage. A half-hearted person on a self-discovery trip, good grief, that's still me today.
But before I write an epic about ultimately just two songs, let's get to the point: "Do the Math" is a single taken from last year's, to me unknown album "See The Light". It is a wonderfully laid-back ska piece played at a medium tempo, as usual with perfectly arranged horns and backing vocals to support the melody. Everything is held together despite the fullness, so that you are not overwhelmed by one or the other. The lyrics combine metaphors from the mathematical realm, as I am now cheaply demonstrating, to engage with the question of what ultimately remains of the things and people that are truly important in life. There is also a fittingly vibrant animated video to watch, which is definitely worth seeing on its own, but of course distracts a bit from the music.
The second song, in my opinion, showcases the band's strength much more, namely an irresistible, singable punk rock with a touch of trombone reinforcement at the key points. "Connect The Dots," again a symbol, this time for the unbearable isolation of people, and that we do not have to accept it. The sound is very smooth and catchy, just as one is used to from the band, yet it carries an incredibly positive energy that sweeps you away and does not allow the poppy aspect of the music to lull you. Interestingly, you often hear the groove more in pure punk songs from ska-punk bands, here the bass bounces like a bouncy ball through the entire piece with its dynamic runs, while guitar and drums push forward. It could have also been on the album "Losing Streak" in this form.
I would probably buy the single just for the B-side and want to catch up on the rest of the album soon. This band still manages to tackle actually difficult situations in the lyrics and musically spread such unwavering optimism that it should be prescribed as an antidepressant.
