This Time Next Year Deliver Catchy Tunes on Road Maps and Heart Attacks

If you thought pop-punk was a passing phase, think again. Sure, Simple Plan and Good Charlotte have disappeared from the music scene and the memories of most listeners, but that doesn't mean the genre isn't still going strong. After all, many nostalgic twenty-somethings as well as a whole new generation of potty-humor enthusiasts are celebrating the reunion of Blink-182, the act that cemented the popularity of pop-punk. And there's even a fresh field of pop-punk bands emerging, such as This Time Next Year.

Much like The Movielife, the band whose 2000 album inspired the band's name, This Time Next Year is a pop-punk outfit that brings a lot of energy in upbeat songs that tend to be simple in structure but never lacking in enthusiasm. Shout-along choruses and three-chord verses are pretty much the standard from this Walnut Creek, CA group, but that doesn't make their music bad - their debut album, Road Maps and Heart Attacks proves that.

The first track, "Rise & Fall, Curtain Call," is a great introduction to the band, as it starts off at a sprint with classic skatepark punk sound and anti-society lyrics: "You should me that this is just a front, I guess it goes to show you can't trust anyone." But despite the negativity in the lyrics, the song is anything but depressing. The sound is pure pop-punk, with a rapid drumbeat, distorted power chords and a high-pitched riff running through the entire song. This Time Next Year packs a lot of sound into a mere two minutes and nineteen seconds, even squeezing in a palm-muted breakdown before the final chorus.

The next song, "New Sensation," features more of the same - tight production, tasteful riffing and steady rhythm guitar. Again, the band focuses on insincerity, with singer Pete Dowdalls musing, "I've grown sick of slick bullsh*t...who needs a spine anyway?" The post-chorus breakdown here features a shout-along inducing section during which all of the instruments except for the drums drop out for a near-acapella feel. "New Sensation" is a great example of what sets This Time Next Year apart from other acts; even while writing about frustrating or negative topics, the band delivers an upbeat attitude and humor rather than self-pitying or depressing lyrics.

This Time Next Year is nothing if not consistent; the difference in length of the shortest and longest songs is just one minute and 35 seconds, with most tracks hovering around two and a half to three minutes long. Additionally, the sound is similar throughout, as This Time Next Year adheres to the "Keep it simple, stupid" approach, employing just guitars, drums, bass and vocals in every song.

But that's not to say that every song is exactly the same; some stick out more than others. "New Florence," for example, is strikingly catchy, bouncing between a fast-paced, driving chorus with pounding chords and slower sections where the notes are allowed to linger.

And not every song is a negative one or filled with defiant attitude. "Rhyme and Reason," for example, is a heartfelt love song, with Dowdalls singing, "You'll be the reason and I'll be the rhyme, my inspiration like no one else...I promise it's all for you." The song doesn't come across as corny, though, boasting a catchy chorus and fast-paced verse.

So if you're looking for some pleasant pop-punk that's not an excessively cerebral or emotional experience, pick up Road Maps and Heart Attacks on October 20.