Ever since the unbounded success of their 2003 album “Ocean Avenue,” Yellowcard has been a legend of the pop-punk scene. Their latest album, “Lift a Sail,” however, indicates a change in the pace of the Los Angeles-based group's music.
The release takes a new approach to the band’s classic style, focusing more on echoing, driving melodies to create a sense of depth. Several songs, such as “Make Me So” and “Fragile and Dear,” incorporate more synthesized and electronic sounds. In an interview with YouTube channel Bring the Noise, lead singer and lyricist Ryan Key described the album as, “all of our favorite 90s alternative rock bands and Coldplay had a love child and made a record.”
This experimentation of sound and style has led to an eclectic mixture of songs — ranging from the distinctive alternative rock tracks with clear electronic influences to quiet, powerful love songs.
The album begins with “Convocation,” a short instrumental piece featuring soft rises and falls from Sean Mackin’s violin.
The album transitions sharply into several rock songs: “Transmission Home,” “Crash the Gates” and “Make Me So.” The pounding drums and guitars recall the harsh tone of 2006’s “Lights and Sounds” while experimenting with electronic synthesizers in the bridges of each song. In some songs, such as the hit “MSK,” the band uses a synthesizer to emphasize the echoing quality of vocalist Ryan Key’s range.
These electronic additions, however, detract from the depth of the album as a whole. In most songs, the synthesizer creates a robotic feel which does not mesh with the tracks' personal lyrics and profound melodies.
The title song, “Lift A Sail” encapsulates the best parts of the album as a whole. The track is somber and serious, yet not dreary — rather, it shows a maturity and determination unseen in Yellowcard’s previous albums.
The violin makes brief and powerful appearances — “MSK” and “The Deepest Well” both feature violin solos which tug at the heartstrings — but overall the instrument is understated. The violin could have easily replaced the synthesizer in many of the introductions, bridges and conclusions to the songs.
“As a band, [Yellowcard] took more chances than we ever have before with this record,” Key said.
“Lift a Sail” reached an entirely new level in its softer, simpler songs. “One Bedroom” is a classic Yellowcard song about longing for a past lover, reminiscent of “Hang You Up” from 2011’s “When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes.” The modest melody, which begins quietly then builds up to an impressive guitar solo, combines with relatable lyrics to create a song which is both catchy and meaningful.
“Madrid” features only the quiet strumming of guitar with Key’s piercing vocals. The song slows down the pace of the album, allowing the listener to stop and breathe. The song is barely two minutes long, but its beauty lies in its honest simplicity. Key sings, “It was cold on the street / And my heart skipped a beat / When you said you’d be mine / Now I fear I might freeze / So, I’m asking you please / Would you let me inside?” The quiet vulnerability of these lyrics shows the band’s growth and maturity.
“MSK” blends gentle, echoing melodies and profound lyrics to create a song Yellowcard fans will repeat over and over. “California,” the final song on the album, closes with incredibly beautiful piano and heartbreakingly personal lyrics.
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