Four Year Strong “analysis paralysis” Review

analysis paralysis, Four Year Strong’s sixth album release, allegedly was put together in the studio with a base framework, but nothing complete. While the album is a testament to Four Year Strong's diversity, the first impression it gives is a bit disordered throughout. Most of the elements are recognizably the Massachusetts band we all know and love, but the overall result seems to lack a clear sense of purpose.

The album embraces a mix of styles, not only in relation to sound. The band made the decision to throw the all lowercase title trend into the pot, pulling from the sad girl aesthetic and infusing it into the sad boy pop-punk realm where it feels unfit. 

Standout tracks include "maybe It's me" and "out of touch," which showcase the band's knack for crafting catchy, emotive songs. "STFIL" takes a surprising turn with a completely unexpected sound, showing the band's willingness to experiment and evolve. The already quite popular single “daddy of mine” missed the mark by just a hair.

Truthfully, we could go through every song and discuss each of their positive attributes, because they all do in fact bring something to the table. However, when it’s all said and done, all of them can also be perceived as deficient in one ingredient or another. While the tracks offer something, they don't quite deliver everything that was expected.

Even with its inconsistencies, the band wasn’t afraid to take a big risk at this point in their career, which is incredibly admirable. analysis paralysis may not be the most cohesive album, but it’s important to give credit where credit is due – the album captures the fearless creativity and energy that have always defined the group.

Rating: 6/10