Last fall, The Wonder Years made everyone’s year when they announced that they were going to embark on a 2020 tour. The tour, which will feature one acoustic and one electric set each night, following the release of the second installment of their Burst & Decay acoustic EP series. Burst & Decay, Volume II, produced and engineered by Early November frontman, Ace Enders and will be coming out tomorrow Feb. 14. The project, released via Hopeless Records, will be comprised of acoustic re-works of seven songs from all over TWY’s career, including tracks from their 2010 album The Upsides and 2018’s Sister Cities.
The Wonder Years’ acoustic EP enters with distortion as it builds into the familiar sound of “Washington Square Park.” This version is serene met with passion, emphasizing iconic lines such as “If no ones in my corner/since everyone left/I better make it worth it,” paired smooth sounds of acoustic instruments as the song ends.
The EP as a whole is meant to subvert expectations and find ways to turn the original version on its head, there isn’t a better example of this than “We Look Like Lightning,” appearing on Sister Cities, in a digital format with electronic drums, synths, keyboards, etc., but somehow they were able to turn it into something wholly natural and new. This raw, dare we say, electrifying, version is full of acoustic guitars, acoustic piano, and even a string quartet that brews together like a storm ready to take place. To remedy lead singer Dan “Soupy” Campbell’s screaming on the bridge, the band brought in Alex Maniak, of Shortly, as a guest vocal to fill in the space with her husky, incandescent vocals. Maniak’s vocals perfectly complement Campbell’s phenomenal range.
“I Wanted So Badly To Be Brave” describes a blood brother pact being sealed before one of them heads home to face a father who will toss him “room to room.” The bass drives the song, with bassist Josh Martin and Mike Kennedy really snap into a groove that carries this song in a totally different way than the original. The inclusion of trumpets gives the track a new level of dimension and allows the listener to breathe and get wrapped up in a blanket of warm, brassy tones. In the song’s last moments, the lyrics have the space to breathe, allowing the message of “breaking the cycle” to carry more weight and hang in the air when the song comes to its end.
Further down the EP fans will find “Passing Through A Screen Door” the acoustic rendition is soft and tranquil. Lead vocalist, Dan Campbell highlights his ability to produce delicate and bold vocals. String instruments and supple drums make for an eloquent execution of the fan-favorite track.
“It Must Get Lonely” is a classic Wonder Years song made all the more heart-wrenching in its now stripped, slow-burning version. The track retains its original rhythmic and punchy rock lines while still packing an undeniable emotional power, building more and more as each part of the song enters. It opens with Campbell’s clear, emotive vocals melting into a gentle yet foreboding guitar riff, settling listener’s into the story of the track as he refers to himself as, “I’m a raw nerve in the sunlight/After two weeks in the dark.” The rest of the song captures the band’s world journey, the lyrics referencing Ireland, Spain, England, and France, but Campbell keeps it close to home as he refers to “a suit that’s been to too many funerals.” “IMGL” builds into a cloud of vulnerable sounds filled with twinkling keys, strong bass lines, and eruptive drums as Campbell’s lyrics dive into themes of death and grief. Bassist Josh Martin and drummer Mike Kennedy continue to support this sound cloud as it explodes into the song’s iconic hook.
“Cul-de-sac” is shown in a new light, lyrics are presented fearless yet crisp way. Ears are drawn to how clear the vocal lay against the simplicity of the acoustic guitars. As the track comes to a close, a bass-line makes itself prominent, tying the song together.
The EP closes with “Hoodie Weather” entering as a ballad and changing the way we’ve ever heard the song before. With sparks of string instruments and powerful piano keys, TWY stripped the original track to its bones, creating something beautiful.
Burst & Decay, Volume II Tracklist:
1.) “Washington Square Park”
2.) “We Look Like Lightning”
3.) “I Wanted So Badly To Be Brave”
4.) “Passing Through A Screen Door”
5.) “It Must Get Lonely”
6.) “Cul-de-sac”
7.) “Hoodie Weather”
The Wonder Years / Free Throw / Spanish Love Songs / Pool Kids — 2020 Tour Dates
Feb. 20 – Boston, MA @ The Sinclair
Feb. 21 – Boston, MA @ The Sinclair
Feb. 22 – New York, NY @ Webster Theater
Feb. 23 – Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head
Feb. 25 – Orlando, FL @ House Of Blues
Feb. 26 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
Feb. 27 – Nashville, TN @ Cowan
Feb. 29 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
Mar. 1 – Dallas, TX @ Canton
Mar. 3 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
Mar. 4 – San Diego, CA @ Observatory North Park
Mar. 5 – Pomona, CA @ Glasshouse
Mar. 6 – Las Vegas, NV @ Fremont Country Club*
Mar. 7 – Los Angeles, CA @ Regent Theater
Mar. 8 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
Mar. 10 – Salt Lake, UT @ The Depot
Mar. 11 – Denver, CO @ Summit
Mar. 13 – St. Louis, MO @ Ready Room
Mar. 14 – Detroit, MI @ The Majestic
Mar 15 – Chicago, IL @ Concord
Mar. 16 – Cleveland, OH House Of Blues
Mar. 18 – Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
Mar. 19 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Lanes
Mar. 20 – New Haven, CT @ Toads Place
Mar. 21 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Filmore
* No Pool Kids
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
