Review #19 : All Systems Go (Garden State Skies )
REVIEW #19
Artist: All Systems Go
Album: Garden State Skies
So basically All Systems Go decided it was time that us creatures of Earth, also known as the human race, needed to be hit with a bomb filled with the long lost angst of our teens. They called this explosive music device, Garden State Skies and god damn, am I okay with it! If you were a fan of popular rock music between the years of 2000 and 2008, you will find something to enjoy on this nine track record.
In a general sense, All Systems Go’s debut record plays as a 30 minute love letter to the blink-182 pop punk nostalgia that many wish the latter band still held onto through today. Putting aside your feelings on the status of today’s major label pop punk bands however, ASG definitely delivers the tone, feel, and mood that you are craving. They do this by blending the angst, humor, and emotion of mid-2000s blink, with flavors of music history created by the likes of Dashboard Confessional, The Early November, and Hit The Lights.
Ironically, the album’s opening track “Moonview Highway”, begins with a riff very reminiscent of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” before merging with a melodic guitar phrase that welcomes us to a “way back when” sort of song that is certainly suitable for a drive on the west coast. Moving on from there, we hear the fantastically done harmonies on “Anywhere Tonight”, which is probably one of my favorite tracks on the record. Reaching the chorus of this song leaves you with such a warm feeling, and I hope the band continues to create “young love” tracks in the vein of this one in the future.
This next song, I have heard both live and on the record, and both times the track has resonated with me. “London Lights” acts as the finale to Garden State Skies, and according to guitarist and vocalist, Matt Pezza, is about the euphoria one experiences on a trip to Europe, and the feeling of wonder you receive when encountering other pieces of the world first hand. So far, I think this is the band’s best track and I encourage listeners to let this be your first taste of All Systems Go!
Some of the humor I mentioned earlier can be found in the form of a short skit located on the track, “Flight Deck”. This song...well I suspect is about being high. Just a guess though… but seriously,
I definitely think it’s all about that “giggle bush”. #LegalizeIt
Ahem, regardless… for pop-punk fans, Garden State Skies is for sure an album that you should pull from the local music pool and add it to your rotation or playlist. The band captures the full essence of what pop-punk was when I was a teenager and establishes what I consider to be a valiant effort in bringing the genre into today’s wayward musical pallet.
You can check out Matt, Devin, August, and Joe’s debut recording appearance on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Bandcamp! You should also watch this live video shot at The Union Firehouse in New Jersey by Frosted Green Productions!
Ryan Hanratty
Frosted Green Productions
Album: Garden State Skies
So basically All Systems Go decided it was time that us creatures of Earth, also known as the human race, needed to be hit with a bomb filled with the long lost angst of our teens. They called this explosive music device, Garden State Skies and god damn, am I okay with it! If you were a fan of popular rock music between the years of 2000 and 2008, you will find something to enjoy on this nine track record.
In a general sense, All Systems Go’s debut record plays as a 30 minute love letter to the blink-182 pop punk nostalgia that many wish the latter band still held onto through today. Putting aside your feelings on the status of today’s major label pop punk bands however, ASG definitely delivers the tone, feel, and mood that you are craving. They do this by blending the angst, humor, and emotion of mid-2000s blink, with flavors of music history created by the likes of Dashboard Confessional, The Early November, and Hit The Lights.
Ironically, the album’s opening track “Moonview Highway”, begins with a riff very reminiscent of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” before merging with a melodic guitar phrase that welcomes us to a “way back when” sort of song that is certainly suitable for a drive on the west coast. Moving on from there, we hear the fantastically done harmonies on “Anywhere Tonight”, which is probably one of my favorite tracks on the record. Reaching the chorus of this song leaves you with such a warm feeling, and I hope the band continues to create “young love” tracks in the vein of this one in the future.
This next song, I have heard both live and on the record, and both times the track has resonated with me. “London Lights” acts as the finale to Garden State Skies, and according to guitarist and vocalist, Matt Pezza, is about the euphoria one experiences on a trip to Europe, and the feeling of wonder you receive when encountering other pieces of the world first hand. So far, I think this is the band’s best track and I encourage listeners to let this be your first taste of All Systems Go!
Some of the humor I mentioned earlier can be found in the form of a short skit located on the track, “Flight Deck”. This song...well I suspect is about being high. Just a guess though… but seriously,
I definitely think it’s all about that “giggle bush”. #LegalizeIt
Ahem, regardless… for pop-punk fans, Garden State Skies is for sure an album that you should pull from the local music pool and add it to your rotation or playlist. The band captures the full essence of what pop-punk was when I was a teenager and establishes what I consider to be a valiant effort in bringing the genre into today’s wayward musical pallet.
You can check out Matt, Devin, August, and Joe’s debut recording appearance on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Bandcamp! You should also watch this live video shot at The Union Firehouse in New Jersey by Frosted Green Productions!
Ryan Hanratty
Frosted Green Productions
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