Boston Manor: Driftwood

Artist: Boston Manor
Title: Driftwood
Format Reviewed: Stream
Format Released: (MP3) 13th October 2014
Reviewed By: Dan Stoten

The Story So Far have done a lot for the pop-punk world. Since the Walnut Creek five-piece have gained popularity, there's been a huge amount of copy-cat bands, some of which have made it, and some of which certainly haven't. Some of the cream of the pop-punk world now have some clear influences from TSSF, but also retain their own identity.

Fortunately, Blackpool's Boston Manor fall into 'retaining their own identity' category with Driftwood, their second EP. However, that identity seems to have been made by forging together elements of pretty much every pop-punk band in the world, ever, and adding some unique lyrics. It's a bizarre one, because throughout every track on this six-song EP, you can grab elements of so many other bands (from Save Your Breath, through Neck Deep to Me vs Hero) ...but overall, the sound is Boston Manor, and Boston Manor only. It's a rare skill.

Overall, Driftwood is certainly a good-to-excellent EP. It kicks off with Salt Water, which, at just over a minute, whets your appetite for what's to come. Next comes lead track Peach State, for which the band have released a characterful video. Peach State, to me, feels a very real song, a really genuine one. It's well put together, bounces along with a huge amount of energy, and has vocals passionate enough to get anyone singing along. It's in this track (the verses in particular) that arguably the band do sound quite similar to TSSF, but the chorus is a lot more melodic and smoother. It's a really good track, this, and one which immediately piques your interest, as the best pop-punk should.

Title track Driftwood is also a belter, and displays Henry's gritty, guttural vocal perfectly. It's a brilliantly choppy track, Of the six tracks on offer here, it's the one I've returned to the most (which is saying something when Peach State is quite so catchy). There's something about it: having listened to it a good few times now, I think it's the unpredictability the choppiness brings. You almost don't know what's going to happen next, and that's not something often said about pop-punk.

Wolf keeps up the same frantic pace set by the first three tracks. It's another one with melodic verses, and a catchy chorus, which here, due to the more gentle nature of the backing vocal, sounds a little more fragile and isolated. This brings a welcome tonic to the 'all-in' nature of Driftwood. What I would say, however, is that Wolf does begin to sound a bit samey. Unfortunately,  See You In Three Years carries that theme on. It's another good track but doesn't stand out in the same way as some of the others here.

Square One, the final track on the EP, does stand out a little more with it's more laid-back style. It's less frantic and more rounded, and feels more like a 'classic' as opposed to new-wave pop-punk track. There are some delicious harmonies here. It's a strong end to the EP.

So, to sum Driftwood up: it's like everything and nothing you've ever heard before. All pop-punk fans are going to like this. I'm pretty certain Boston Manor are going to be massive. You heard it here first...