Five North released their debut record Scumbag earlier this month after releasing two singles from the EP. You can check out the music video for “This Mess” right here on All Punked Up!
The band consists of Tyler Posey, Kyle Murphy, and Scott Eckel. The boys bonded over their love of music and skateboarding, and are musically guided by close friend John Feldmann. Five North takes a “no ceiling” approach to their musicality and aims to make “whatever the f**k we want.”
Check out our thoughts on Scumbag below and be sure to follow Five North on Instagram and Spotify!
Scumbag will launch Five North’s success in the pop-punk scene.
Five North’s EP is a very powerful debut pop-punk record that will skyrocket their success quickly. The music is fun and pulls from classic pop-punk roots while also defining Five North’s unique sound. Scumbag appears to have personal influence as well.
“Drunk Cat” opens the album with a classic pop-punk vibe. It talks about a guy hanging with his friends getting stoned and drunk rather than dealing with a messy relationship with a girl. If that doesn’t scream punk rock, I’m not sure what does. “This Mess” and “Happier Now” are both fun, upbeat songs as well. Track four is titled “Echo” and slows the album down quite a bit. It is almost the 2020 equivalent of “I Miss You” by blink-182. I can see the lights up in the crowd as people sway back and forth to this one. “Echo” talks about how regardless of where the partners are mentally, and whether or not they are together, they will always be each other’s echo. Referencing someone’s second half as an echo creates beautiful imagery and is a perfect metaphor in music.
The album picks back up with “Same Old Story” which talks about how things in this relationship will not be tolerated much longer. The lyrics speak for the person leaving and the person staying. This song gives me 2009 All Time Low vibes, and I am living for it. The distinct guitar riffs will define Five North’s sound for years to come. The end of the song features our singer speaking. He admits guilt and asks for forgiveness, which makes the song feel more personal.
Five North creates a theme that screams 2000s punk mindset, and we’re here for it.
When Scumbag is played front to back, it has a clear story. In “Drunk Cat” we hear about a guy acting pretty silly, constantly getting stoned and drunk with his friends with no cares. The lyrics move towards a realization of the mess the actions have caused, then the heartbreak of trying to fix things in “This Mess” and “Happier Now.” In “Echo” our singer confesses his emotions and his desire to stay around. The rest of the album talks about how he understands what he did was wrong and how he wishes to go back to how things were. Or, at least have a clear ending so he can move on. The final track is titled “Whiskey Breath” and slows things down again. It talks about how he does not know where the couple stands while softer guitar parts back the vocals.
Scumbag seems to come from a personal place for the band and tells an authentic, punk-like story through lyrics and instruments that fans around the world can relate to. Plus, it makes me want to get up and dance! It is a very solid debut EP and we are so excited to see where Five North will go from here!
Looking for THE scene podcast? Look no further. Unplugged w/ Tyler Winters & John Pearman is exactly what you need. Available wherever you listen to podcasts.
Follow or Subscribe below!
Sign-Up
Need a scene-related weekly newsletter? Sure you do. Never miss a thing in the alternative music scene by signing up for The All Punked Up Newsletter
