The Story So Far, Mini Album 2007, CD Review

I like it. I like it. I like it! Now I suppose you want to know why.

Though I am typically not a “powerpop” fanatic, I listen to new music with open ears and an open mind. What I quickly heard with The Story So Far’s Mini Album 2007 was music that was fresh, creatively twisted, and full of entertaining talent.

My favorite aspect of this collection is the unexpectedness it delivers. These songs, performed by exceptional musicians and vocalists, frequently take impressive twists and turns such as in the catchy, “Okay, It’s Not Ok.” A bit of these “twists” could be the result of having a good producer at hand. However, I think the majority of the goodness comes from the pure chemistry and creative talent of the band. These guys have a very strong ability to take a pop formula, throw it into a blender with a pint of British Ale, and pour out a tasty mixture servable at any reputable pub.

One of my favorites is, “1234.” It’s fun, lyrically rhythmic, and again takes you for an unexpected musical ride. The central message of the song appears to be a well-crafted love-gone-bad scenario. But after listening to the song four times, I still can’t figure what “these three words” are (though I’ve got some guesses). That’s the beauty of being an artist, though. You can say what you want and let everyone else guess what you’re alluding to. I really like this song.

So as a critic, here’s my dilemma. The Story So Far markets themselves as a powerpop/pop punk band. Songs in this genre typically offer some simple, catchy, and sometimes repetitive hooks that the listener can grab onto. Although I heard some phenomenal songwriting and instrumentalism in this six-song collection, I didn’t catch on to the hooks like I wanted to. I could pick out the choruses, but they might have been a bit too long and not repetitive enough to stick in the head of a pop audience. Not necessarily a bad thing. Not all musicians want sing-along choruses. But for the genre this band is marketing towards, adding some short catchy hooks or simple repetitive choruses might just take them from the UK to a worldwide market. I think they really have what it takes.

One last note: The Story So Far is offering this entire release, Mini Album 2007, to be downloaded for free from their Myspace site. Get it now, so when they become world famous you can say, “I heard them first!”

Artist Website: www.myspace.com/tssf 

Review By: ListenersGeneration.com