From Wikipedia |
Words By: Emily
Racanelli
Legendary: Emotions Gone Wild
Computer generated hooks infused
with a pulsatingly clean snare drum and the distinctly high vocals of lead
singer Brian Logan Dales mash together to create an album that is--excuse my
corniness--very much so legendary. This third studio album from the Arizona
quintet stands out because it is a far cry from what Fearless Records usually
endorses. Think about it, the chunk of their lineup is hardcore screamo bands
such as August Burns Red, and breakup song connoisseurs like Mayday Parade. The
Summer Set manage to weave their way into a scene set on sadness and head-
banging, eloquently establishing themselves as the kings (and queen) of
marketable mainstream pop with a hint of feels. Basically, they are doing what
no one else has done before--ergo the legendary thing.
Speaking of legendary, it is that
title-track which encapsulates the “feels” section of The Summer Set’s
repertoire. The chorus reveals the truth of what we all go through in that
teenage stage of life, feeling lost and unmotivated, isolating ourselves from
the outside world. Dales sings, “I’ve spent too many nights watching How I Met Your Mother alone/Now I’m searching for my
yellow umbrella, hoping I’ll take her home.” Yes, the message is as
straightforward as it sounds. We spend our nights escaping reality via Netflix,
hoping that if we are immersed in fictional characters, all of that emotional
pain will go away. As Dales has stated in live performances, this song is about
saying no when Netflix asks if you want to continue on to the next episode. It
is that little ounce of inspiration we need to face the tribulations in our
lives. After all, “we all just wanna be legendary” and that can’t be accomplished
by binge watching HIMYM for 12 hours.
TSS couldn’t have said it any
better, because we do in fact want to leave a mark on the world, and what
better way to do so than by making the most of every second with the ones we
love? “Lightning In A Bottle” is the ultimate ‘live in the moment’ pop anthem,
with arguably the best chorus Dales has ever written, “We’re catching lightning
in a bottle/Don’t give a f**k about tomorrow!” Is it simple? Yes, but it’s
about reading between the lines. Let’s be honest, albeit cathartic, pop punk
music can still leave you feeling sad and misunderstood. The beauty of TSS is
that you can have 3 minutes to put aside everything else that plagues you, and
just dance around your room screaming about how nothing else matters except
right here and right now. Will it solve all your issues? No, but it will
provide that desperately needed bit of happiness to get you through the rest of
day.
Staying on track with the uplifting
spirit TSS is known for, I’ll jump over to the top single from Legendary, “Boomerang.” It exemplifies that
the quintet is not dependent on the loops they produce with their Macbook, but
can also muster up a solid instrument-driven song as well. It begins with a
classic bass/snare rock beat from drummer Jess Bowen. She crescendos into a
snare fill-in that transitions in the chorus, which most people may consider
the highlight of the song. It is indeed very catchy, stating, “If I was Jay-Z,
you’d be my Beyonce, we could rock the nation like they do/And if I was Da Vinci,
you’d be Mona Lisa, paint a smile perfectly on you.” How could you not want to
dance around to that?! However, I think the most credit for this one should be
given to Bowen. Not only is she a female drummer (which is a rarity in the
music scene), but an incredibly talented one. Listen closely to the tune and
you’ll notice her kick speed on the bass drum as well as a few fills that will
explode your ear drums during the lulls in the song. Some of the other music
takes away from her capabilities, being infused by electronics. But make no
mistake, this girl knows how to do much more than keep a back beat. (I
recommend going on Fearless Records’ Youtube channel and watching the video in
which Bowen and Dales each play the drums to “Boomerang.”)
All that talk of breaking free of
the spell cast by Netflix and living in the moment culminates in the song “F**k
U Over” which sings of having fun and not being tied down by commitment. This
one relates to the teenage generation more than any other, as it is a time to
explore the world and not get hooked on someone or something that could drag
you down. It goes, “I didn’t mean to f**k you over/I just wanna have some
fun/We can rock the world tonight, but no it doesn’t have to be love.” I am a
purveyor of love as much as the next romantic, but sometimes it’s about just
going after what you want and not worrying about your status with that person a
month from now. It is a confession that we all make mistakes and lead people
on, but that’s just part of being young. The opening lines admit to this fault
in our human nature, saying “Let me set it straight, I’ve done some sh*t/And
maybe I ain’t too proud of it.” Fear not, whatever you have done can be left in
the past. Enjoy the moment and remember that there are always second chances.
This is best described in “Maybe
Tonight,” shedding light on the fact that all the stuff that messed you up can
be kept behind, because “Maybe tonight we’ll start all over/Like it’s the first
day of our lives.” There’s no point in being caught up on what made you feel
broken and empty yesterday; we have to move ahead and make the most of life
going forward. Guilt can’t change the past, and worrying won’t change the
future.
The succession of messages provide
by The Summer Set is what makes Legendary a go-to album for whatever
feeling is trapped inside your chest. It supplies enough electro-tinged pop to
put you in a good mood, but with heavy lyrics to make you feel less alone.
Balance--something that is the goal for all music--is achieved in every sense
of the word, making this a record that will live on for years to come.
You
can catch The Summer Set supporting Sleeping With Sirens on the We Like It
Quiet Acoustic Tour this summer!
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