Music Review: The Story So Far, The Story So Far

By Tyler Hodg

Pop-punk may not be on top of the world like it was in the early 2000s, but it’s still a major underground scene. The Story So Far has found success in that very scene and with the release of their self-titled third album, The Story So Far, the band continues to create music in the same vein that they have since their formation. For fans of their previous work that don’t care to see major evolution, this latest album from the group is perfect. For fans of their previous work that would like to see the band branch out and incorporate new styles and show significant growth, disappointment may be imminent.

The California-based band has a definite sound, that’s for sure. One could argue that all of the songs sound the same, which on the surface they do, but after more time spent with them it’s apparent that small divergences between the tracks make them noteworthy individually. For example, the vocal melody in the chorus of “Distaste” is impressively memorable, while the general aura and feel of “Stalemate” and “Solo” are much different from songs like “Nerve” and “Smile.”

The melodramatic, but in your face pop-punk sound runs throughout the album and only slows down for one track, a short (2:33 minutes to be exact) song called “Phantom.” This is the only song to not feature singer Parker Cannon’s raspy and aggressive vocals. Instead, the screaming guitars and thunderous drums of the band’s usual sound have been toned down. It’s refreshing and shows diversity in the band’s songwriting ability. The only downfall of the song itself is that it’s not long enough.

Cover art can sometimes make or break an album because it’s often the first thing you see. In the case of The Story So Far, the artwork neither helps nor hinders its overall package. It’s not that the cover is bad, it’s just that it’s not significant enough to make a difference. The black and cream cover features a mess of drawings such as snakes, clouds, rolling hills, and humans perched upon rooftops. The “story” behind this cover is lost within its ambiguity, making it like there is a secret meaning that you weren’t let in on.

Nothing about this album feels forced or faked, and that’s what really matters. For a lot of people, this album will be a “should listen to” rather than a “shouldn’t listen to.” It would be a treat for a band like The Story So Far to shatter the expectations of what pop-punk can be, but their latest effort doesn’t. Regardless, the band remains true to their sound, and that’s something you can respect.

The Story So Far was released on May 19 through Pure Noise Records.

Tour Dates:
May 22 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
May 23 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory
May 24 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
May 25 – Virginia Beach, VA – Peabody’s
May 26 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theater
May 28 – Tampa, FL – Orpheum Theatre
May 29 – Vero Beach, FL – Polish American Social Club
May 30 – Orlando, FL – The Plaza Live
May 31 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
June 2 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar
June 3 – Austin, TX – The Mohawk
June 4 – Dallas, TX – The Door
June 5 – Oklahoma, OK – Farmers Market
June 6 – Denver, CO – Summit Music Hall
June 8 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
June 10 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox
June 11 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
June 12 – Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades
June 13 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
Aug 2 – Los Angeles, CA – The Mayan Theatre
Aug 7 – Oberhausen, Germany – Olgas Rock
Aug 8 – Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber, Germany – Taubertal
Aug 9 – Eschwege, Germany – Openflair Festival (Baumkreis Stage)
Aug 11 – Lucerne, Switzerland – Treibhaus
Aug 12 – Milan, Italy – Circolo Magnolia
Aug 15 – Vienna, Austria – B72
Aug 16 – Prague, Czech Republic – OO7
Aug 20 – Hasselt, Belgium – Pukkelpop
Aug 21 – Dessau, Germany – Destruction Derby
Aug 22 – Karlsruhe, Germany – New Noise Festival
Aug 25 – Kit Ku, Japan – Shangri-La
Aug 26 – Nagoya, Japan – Apollo Base
Aug 27 – Shibuya, Japan – Club Quattro
Aug 30 – Jakarta, Indonesia – Viky Sinipar
Aug 31 – Singapore – The ACC MPH
Sep 2 – Perth, Australia – Amplifier Bar
Sep 3 – Leederville, Australia – YMCA HQ
Sep 4 – Brisbane, Australia – Lab
Sep 5 – Brisbane, Australia – Max Watts
Sep 6 – Sydney, Australia – Metro
Sep 7 – Newcastle, Australia – Cambridge
Sep 8 – Canberra, Australia – Magpies
Sep 10 – Melbourne, Australia – Aarrows
Sep 11 – Melbourne, Australia – Max Watts
Sep 12 – Adelaide, Australia – Uni Bar LIC
Sep 14 – Wellington, New Zealand – Zeal
Sep 15 – Auckland, New Zealand – Ellen Melville
Sep 16 – Christchurch, New Zealand – Revive