The Story So Far “I Want To Disappear” Review
They simply do not miss.
The Story So Far have been an undeniable force over the past fifteen years, going from a promising young pop-punk band with a genuinely new take on the genre to a truly generational band in their scene by the middle of the 2010s. The band’s first two records were quickly heralded as modern classics for pop-punk for good reason, and were followed with a 2015 self-titled LP full of fan favorites and 2018’s absolutely stellar Proper Dose. But since Proper Dose, The Story So Far have been uncharacteristically quiet, with just under five years passing between their previous LP and last year’s single “Big Blind” - the single longest gap without new music in the band’s career. Finally, the wait is over, and sure enough it was worth it, as I Want To Disappear is yet another milestone for inarguably the most consistent pop-punk band of the past decade.
From the first moments of I Want To Disappear, The Story So Far feel notably reinvigorated, as opening tracks “All This Time” and “Watch You Go” see the band coming out swinging in a way that has not been seen from them since What You Don’t See, opting for a more explosive and emotional approach than the calculated one utilized on the band’s previous two records. This can be said for many of the tracks present here, as I Want To Disappear embraces the best parts of each offering from the band to date, all the while pushing forward to some of their highest high points thus far.
“All This Time” explodes into pummeling bass and drums and melodic guitars after a quick, barely audible four count on the hi-hats. The song wastes no time proving that it truly is a showstopper, with a tight and rhythmic instrumental supporting one of the most anthemic choruses The Story So Far have ever written, building into a massive and cathartic bridge that feels like a real creative triumph. “Watch You Go” is classic The Story So Far - lightning fast while still remaining impactful. The band tears through the first verse and pre-chorus before an infectious half-time chorus steals the show, and the euphoric instrumental break at the end of the song closes out the barely over two minute track on a high point.
Proper first single “Letterman” is next, a layered and emotional powerhouse that dials back the energy a bit to allow room for the lyrics to really shine, touching on the loss that serves as a central lyrical focus for much of the tracklisting. Boasting another absolutely massive earworm hook, “Letterman” truly sees its best moments in the bridge when frontman Parker Cannon finally breaks into his trademark raspy upper register and delivers one of the best vocal performances of his career. The following “Jump The Gun” is a hard-hitting track that masterfully plays around with dynamics, with a dramatic push-pull guitar riff in the verses that set the stage for the track to hit like a brick wall in the bridge. “Big Blind” follows, and this song finally gets a chance to shine in context with a new and improved mix.
As worthwhile as the front half of I Want To Disappear is, it’s the back half where the record truly shines. “Nothing To Say” is a bombastic circle-pit anthem that sonically serves as an older sibling to much of what was present instrumentally on Under Soil And Dirt, before allowing the tension built by its breakneck pacing to give way to a half-time bridge that feels absolutely massive. The record’s longest track at just under four minutes, “Keep You Around” follows with extremely quiet and reserved verses that are juxtaposed with a monolithic chorus that boasts the closest thing to a pop hook that The Story So Far have ever brought to the table. “You’re Still In My Way” is another immediate and rousing pop-punk masterclass, and a strong candidate for the best song on the record up until this point. The guitar leads on this one are captivating, with yet another standout chorus, and a bridge that builds and builds upon itself, ending with multiple vocal parts overlapping harmoniously for one hell of a conclusion to one hell of a pop-punk song. Yet, as excellent as “You’re Still In My Way” is, the following track “White Shores” is another beast entirely.
The first of a pair of ballads that close out I Want To Disappear, “White Shores” opens with a sole acoustic guitar and vocalist Cannon showcasing a subdued falsetto, as he candidly reflects on the loss of a loved one. As the song progresses, more and more layers are added before “White Shores” explodes into its bridge around the two minute mark, as Cannon utterly belts the song’s refrain over a wall of guitars, resulting in the single most emotionally impactful moment on the album, as well as potentially the greatest song this band has ever written. The record comes to a close with its title track - a sincere acoustic number about romantic uncertainty the likes of which The Story So Far has not produced since “Navy Blue,” and it truly is nice to see a song like this finally earning a spot on a proper full length from the band.
With I Want To Disappear, The Story So Far have created yet another masterpiece, and one that cements them as not only an all-time cornerstone of their genre, but an undeniable contender for the title of the greatest pop-punk band of all time. Building upon everything that has worked for them in the past while never failing to look forward, I Want To Disappear is The Story So Far at their best.
10/10
