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Hi Sorry State readers! It’s me again. I hope to get on here from time to time, particularly if I’m super stoked to write about a record. This is one of those weeks.
First, how’s everyone doing? It’s a hot and gross day out, and the grass feels like straw. But I hear it’s gonna rain this week. I can’t wait for it to be real fall. Hey, it looks like October has us covered with some sick shows in Raleigh. Rigorous Institution is on tour and swinging by Raleigh on the 19th, and Golpe (also on tour) is hitting up Raleigh on the 20th! Trust me you do not want to miss either show. I saw Golpe at Sorry State Fest a few years back, and they did not disappoint.
Okay, so my pick is a no-brainer for me. It’s the latest installment in the Dark Thoughts catalogue! Brought to us by Stupid Bag in the US and Drunken Sailor in the UK. It’s their fourth album, Highway to the End, and it’s their first LP since 2018. Lemme tell ya, It was well worth the wait.
This one is 11 songs in 16 minutes, and maybe their fastest record yet? The opening track, Slept till 2, is the perfect opener. It’s super short, but it’s a great way to say “we’re back!” It’s fast and punchy and the perfect teaser for what’s to come. The second track, A Different World, is one of my favorites on the record. Hell, it’s one of my favorites in their whole catalogue. The rhythm, melody, and vocal delivery are perfection.
I’ve written a staff pick on the debut Dark Thoughts album, so I’m not gonna go into it, but there are times I’m listening to this new record that I’m reminded of that masterpiece. Maybe it’s the speed and vocal flow that brings me back, but this new one is more guitar-centered and a bit less poppy.
Each Dark Thoughts record brings something different, but while staying within the boundaries of what makes Dark Thoughts, Dark Thoughts. I hate to use the word, boundaries. That’s such a dumb industry word. I hope you know what I mean, though. So yeah, it’s fast and high-energy, hooky and addictive like its predecessors. But I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge its darker and more reflective themes.
Some songs are obviously deeply personal, so I don’t think it’s appropriate to address lyrical content I have no clue about. But the following lines from the song Off the Rails resonated with me: “it’s ok to fall off the rails for a little while. Everybody falls off the rails for a little while. Fallin’ off the rails again.” That made me think that I don’t even know if I’ve ever been firmly planted on any proverbial rail. If there’s a rail, I’m usually just hanging onto it and hoping for the best. I just got a flashback from that scene from Lost Boys where all the vamps and Michael (minutes away from becoming a vampire) were hanging onto the rails under the train tracks, and then they each fall into the darkness. Anyway, back to reality.
There is also a ballad on this new album called Please Don’t be Lonesome. This was an unexpected addition for me. I gotta say it grew on me, but it took some time. The first half is pretty different for Dark Thoughts, then about halfway through they speed things up. It maintains a gloomy but hopeful vibe throughout the track. I find that while the album is somewhat darker than the previous albums, overall, there is a hopeful undertone peeking through.
I gotta mention this little part at the beginning of the last song, Sweet Success, when Amy says, “ok stay where you are, we’re gonna do one more.” I don’t know what it is about Amy’s voice, but it adds something to the dynamic that I can’t really explain. So, I will just say this. I’d love to hear Amy sing on a Dark Thoughts song. There’s something about her voice, and when she does her thing, you just want to hear more. And come on… Daniel Cox just can’t miss on drums. Fast and tight, perfect rhythm, etc. This Philly trio has their shit all the way together.
Dark Thoughts mastered the Ramones formula in a way that still feels fresh and exciting. In a way that feels way more than just a Ramones-inspired band. They definitely adopt the Ramones three or four chord, hooky, fun, high-octane sound, but they flesh out that blueprint in their own way. In a way that makes me stop wanting to call it Ramones-core.
Personally, it’s hard for me to rank their four albums. The debut will always be number one in my heart. After that, it gets tough, so I’m not gonna do it. I will say you need all four, as each one truly brings something new to the table. In the first three albums, you get some snotty, dancy, poppy, and light-hearted lovey moments. And the latest album adds something more guitar-driven and a little more serious to the recipe. But like every album before it, Highway to the End is a banger. It’s exciting and fresh and never ever boring. I will forever look forward to new Dark Thoughts music. Get yourself a copy now!
Thanks for reading!
Angela