Growing up in Southern California, I learned about many bands before they hit the mainstream. One of the bands I grew up listening to and always found interesting is Yellowcard. The main reason is simple, and one of the reasons why “Ocean Avenue” is such a hit. The punkers took the idea of pop punk and then introduced the violin. I kid you not. There’s a string section in the band, and it made them stand out completely, to the point that they were signed by a major label and put out none other than “Ocean Avenue”.
The band’s 13 tracks and 47 minutes of music feel comfortable, steady, and rocking throughout. You aren’t ever given a break from the lyrical elements that take you from angst to love to the struggles of a generalized manner; the lyrics are relatable and on point with the signature sound of Yellowcard. The band’s track listing flows really well, and the album feels like a “whole” release, rather than a collection of singles. That is evidenced through the first 5 tracks, which set you up for the latter half of the record, even when the band slows down a little on “Empty Apartment”, giving you a sensibility that is not often found on pop punk records. “Ocean Avenue” has so many catchy songs, uses the violin to great advantage, and unleashes a record that is very much West Coast in nature and full of life even after all these years.
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