Culture

Rating: A-

Radiator hospital is a self-described DIY band based in Philadelphia and centres around the twitchy, heartfelt, pop-punk songwriting of frontman Sam Cook-Parrott.

Clocking in at just over 30 minutes, this spry collection of 15 songs is upbeat. Well, you know, as upbeat as any 15 songs about heartbreak and loss could possibly hope to be. At face value it is a joyous record, but it is a joy that stems from the euphoria of acceptance rather than any sort of optimistic upturn in lifestyle. Torch Song often feels like a tired, weary smile, finally beaten out of someone after they’ve spent several months with their soul in a vice.

Cook-Parrott, of course, describes it best in a statement released on the band’s website. “This is a record about the relationships you encounter throughout your life. It’s about how sometimes you find the perfect person and the circumstances of your lives keep you apart. It’s about how long and weird and crazy life can be, how sometimes it feels like it never ends and you never learn anything new.”

In terms of the overall sound of the record, it has consistent ramshackle aesthetic. Even so, the record is still a warm, effortless listen from start to finish. This is largely due to great sequencing, and a nice variety of blitzkrieg pop-punk, mellow melodic-pop and slower acoustic numbers. The contributions from additional vocalists, Katie and Allison Crutchfield and Maryn Jones from All Dogs, also help keep things from getting too monotonous.

Cook-Parrott’s songwriting remains relatively strong throughout. Highlights include: “Cut Your Bangs,” which is an infectious melodic pop tune with a killer chorus; “Fireworks,” which is a heartfelt acoustic tune; and “Honeymoon Phase” is another fast paced, infectious track with great dual vocal work.

I’ll finish by telling you one more great thing about Torch Song by Radiator Hospital: it’s available for free download from their Bandcamp page at radiatorhospital.bandcamp.com.