REVIEW: This Time Next Year – Drop Out Of Life

Artist: This Time Next Year
Album: Drop Out Of Life
Genre: Pop Punk
Label: Equal Vision

The uprise of poppy-laden boy bands distinguishing themselves as “pop-punk” have in a sense tarnished what the genre has always stood for. Thankfully the recent years have seen a great deal of bands drawing influence from the New Found Glory and Blink-182 days, revitalizing an optimistic future for a new era of the genre. As a name referencing The Movielife’s album would propose, This Time Next Year are a clever advocate of the early-2000’s pop-punk sound and their debut album Road Maps and Heart Attacks set them on a fast track to success. However despite being an admirable outing, the band never got the attention they rightfully deserved. This Time Next Year have aspired to break through the mold once and for all with their newest record, Drop Out Of Life.

As stated before, This Time Next Year is heavily influenced by New Found Glory, but this is by no means a bad comparison to have. Drop Out Of Life features the bands natural progression while retaining the same up-beat energy with underlying hardcore moments that have been noted for. Album opener, “Drop Out Of Life,” sucker punches you from the beginning with poppy chords and the infectious chants, “I want to drop out of life and get on with my days,” make it nearly impossible to restrain from singing along’s. Frontman Pete Dowdall’s crisp vocal delivery have never been stronger than on this record, while his lyrics rarely teeter from a lighthearted approach to lost love and trust as he sings, “I don’t wanna know who’s taking you home or where you’re sleeping after last call,” on the highly melodic track “Last Call.” If you’re brokenhearted then “Modern Day Love Story,” will surely kick the blues right from your heart while Dowdall recalls a past lover with resentment and moving on in mind when he sings, “I’m over the misery you put me through. I’m not melodramatic, I’m no one’s bad habit, I’m not your fool.”

Switching gears musically, the mid-album highlight “Spoontonic,” sweeps through with a deeper melodic backbone that gradually gains speed to a shattering bridge which leads into the bouncy dance number, “Matchbook.” A repeated guitar part paired with a soaring chorus culminates to an enticing finale, leaving fans belting out the lyrics at the top of their lungs. Between the hyperbolic breakdown in, “My Side of Town,” to the gang chants and energetic rhythm section on the last track, “This Is An Airport Train,” it’s evident that each song is precisely constructed with an entertaining live show in mind.

This Time Next Year have yet to create an individual staple sound but their hard-hitting drum beats and infectiously catchy atmosphere is sure to garner some long-overdue attention. If you’re a fan of high-energy choruses that will be stuck in your head for days then I can’t grasp a single reason for you to not own this album. While not quite a masterpiece Drop Out Of Life, cements This Time Next Year’s place in the ever-growing ranks of acts dialing back to the heartfelt pop-punk fans grew to love.

SCORE: 8/10
Review written by: Nerissa Judd (Follow her on Twitter)

James Shotwell
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3 Responses to “REVIEW: This Time Next Year – Drop Out Of Life”

  1. Brandon Banks says:

    Holy crap! This writer is hott and she knows her music. I’m in love.