Review: The Story So Far

On May 19th, The Story So Far will officially release their self-titled follow up album to their 2013 break out record What You Don’t See. Although the band has been live streaming the album, this is one of the most anticipated pop-punk albums of the year.

The Story So Far gives you a raw look at the saga of feelings one goes through while trying to forget about the person who broke your heart. From the first time you see that person after the break-up, to the drama filled weeks that pass of he said she said, to the anger and sadness one feels toward that other person and toward themselves, because you know you still care.

The album’s first track Smile kickstarts the album in a haunting way, with a guitar riff that will electrify your senses. Shortly after, a quick drum beat commences, that will get your heartbeat racing. Lyrically, the song describes either the first time seeing this person who broke his heart or the first confrontation after learning of infidelity. In classic The Story So Far fashion, the song pushes new limits musically, which allows the listener to really feel the emotion, lyrically.

Heavy Gloom explores the emotions of hatred and anger toward not only the person, but towards yourself for still feeling something for someone who tore them apart. Musically, this track starts off a bit more up-tempo, and a bit easier to follow along too.The next track, Distaste, begins to show the true anger and resentment felt toward this person that someone used to have so much love for. The want to so badly be able to make them feel all the heartbreak and sadness that was once felt by them. The heavy guitars that open the track make you feel the anger toward this person as well, before the lyrics even begin. The first verse describes all of these feelings so well, “Tell me how your life’s played out down south in the sun/ Missing school, so you go out every night and try to have fun/ And you still deny and try to hide the smoke from your gun/Think I’ll slip inside and start making you aim at everyone”

Solo describes how the person who broke your heart, could possibly try to make you feel as though everything was your fault, but with that, you realize that you don’t need that kind person in your life. Although the guitars are a bit softer throughout the song, the drums play a prominent part. Mock brings back the beat with the heavy guitar influence, while continuing the timeline of emotions. Revenge, or vengefulness pops into my head when I hear this song because the chorus says,”And when you finally see the scope,/feel the ghost grip of my choke./I won’t know you, or love you less/and it’ll be effortless.” In the end, you feel a sense of relief, as if the person knows that they are going to be okay, and everything will blow over soon.

Unfortunately, just when you feel as though everything will be okay, its always normal to wonder what that person is doing, and how they are. How You Are, which happens to be my favorite track on the album, tells the story of someone who thinks they have moved on, but then that person just pops back into their mind and Nerve goes even further to describe that feeling of no matter how hard you try to ignore those feelings, it actually begins to effect their lives. “These days I tend to see red/Cause all the women swimming in my head/Are not the same ones laying in my bed/But I do my best to ignore it/But you still come up/You still come up”

After these emotions are recognized, it’s not uncommon to remember all the good times you shared together. The next track Phantom, only uses haunting guitar riffs to bring the idea of melancholy memories to light.

The last two songs on the album Scowl and Stalemate both share the same realization that this person that you once loved, will never be that same person again. Both songs reintroduce the pop-punk influence, musically, to the album with catchy guitar riffs and drums. As a listener, you finally feel as though this person is on the right track to recovering from this awful heartbreak, and you feel a sense of pride.

Once again, The Story So Far have broken the mold for other pop-punk bands everywhere. This album displays a musical timeline of every emotion felt after a heartbreak, and it’s sure to touch one of the many TSSF fans!