Canadian pop-rockers Oakrest will release their debut album this Friday, July 8th. You can check out their most recent single “Olivia” right here on All Punked Up!
Oakrest is inspired by icons like Fountains of Wayne, blink-182, New Found Glory, and Neck Deep. Although Oakrest tends to write about heartbreak, feeling alone, and relationships, the music behind the words is energetic and uplifting.
A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to chat with Jacob Szabo about the record. Click here to see our interview with Oakrest!
We got a sneak peek of Summer Sun by Oakrest. You can check out our thoughts below!
You can learn more about the band & order or save Summer Sun by visiting their website.
Be sure to keep up with Oakrest on social media!
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‘Summer Sun’ by Oakrest is the feel-good pop-punk album of the summer
Without a doubt, Oakrest is on their way to being a leader in the scene. Their debut album speaks volumes about their musicality, life experiences, and ability to make any song make you want to dance & jump.
The album opens with “Olivia”, the kick-ass single that gives off “Stacy’s Mom” plus “Ashley” vibes. Track two continues the romance story. “Nothing Serious” helps emphasize that confusing stage of a relationship where two people are unsure of where things are going. Do I fall in love? Do I not? Is it nothing serious? Whether you’re currently single or in a relationship, this song can be super relatable to your current or past relationships.
Track 3 is titled “Love for One Day” and is (to me, at least) a response to track 2. It discusses the fact that hope is disappearing for this love to last. This topic moves smoothly into “When One Door Closes” (track 4). While it may seem cliché, the idea that when one door closes, another opens, is so true. The band uses melodic riffs and classic pop-punk drums to create an early 2000s pop-punk masterpiece with this track.
“It’s Something You Do” continues the same pattern of class pop-punk styles while tying a bit of midwest emo vibes into it. The soft opening with a focus on the vocals, mixed with a poppy riff gives Grayscale feels to the max!
The record is structured with purpose: slowing it down halfway through & ending with the perfect summary of the band’s unique sound.
Track 6 is titled “Take It Slow” and focuses on a natural feel by mixing acoustic sounds with light riffs. The percussion in the track is pretty much non-existent. It makes me just close my eyes and sway back & forth as the music moves through me from head to toe. The musicality matches the desperate feeling of the lyrics. “I don’t understand how we got here in the first place” is emphasized in the bridge and gives us that feeling of confused regret. What did we do that got us to this point? How do we change course? This idea is relatable for so many different aspects of life, not just relationships. I like how the band makes the message of the song capture a wider audience.
“Summer Sun” is the eighth track & the title track of the album. The guitar melody in this song is probably my favorite on the whole record. It opens with a somewhat tough riff that transitions into the dance-like melody that carries throughout the song.
“Final Words” opens with the most unique guitar riff on the album. It gives strong Sum 41 vibes at the beginning, but that quickly fades into Oakrest’s own sound. This track is definitely my favorite to sing along to!
The album closes with “Shed My Skin” which opens with those midwest emo feels again. It is clear that this track was carefully selected as the final track. The song captures all of the various sounds used throughout the record.
More from Oakrest
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