As I have learned through my super-prestigious sociology degree (joke), I must present my readers with any bias I contain in order to be objective as possible. With that being said, I preface this review with the following controversial statement: I don’t really like pop-punk. Sure I used to listen to and play pop-punk growing up like most of generation Y, but now I am just a cynical and bitter bastard that is unable to relate to anything emitting such happiness as most pop-punk does. Although my days in this genre seem to be over, Austin, TX based Thieves is a damn good pop-punk band that holds my attention more than any other band of similar sorts.
Created out of the ashes of popular hardcore/metal outfit The Cabaret, Thieves smashed into the Austin scene with their own brand of pop-punk containing a hardcore subconscious that seems to guide their music and keep it from comparison to mediocre bands sticking precisely to the formula. After working on their first full-length for over a year, fine tuning and getting everything the way they like it, Just Give It Up shows how much patience and dedication can pay off for a hardworking band. Every song on the album can hold its own and it flows as smoothly as the first period of a pre-teen bitch.
“One Reckless Year” starts off the record with a short and dare I say beautiful breakdown into a fast-paced groove that will satisfy any punker. The first thing that jumped out to me is the astounding production quality. Everything sounds gigantic—like they are playing a football stadium and you as the listener are in the perfect seat. You are quickly introduced to Thieves unique sound with guitarist Chris Skiles’ atypical riffs for the genre and a rhythm section that grabs you by the balls and only lets go to grab them even harder. Drummer Andy Echavarria and bassist Nathan Helton act as a perfect backbone to Theives take on pop-punk while the hopeful and high-pitched vocals accompany head-banging double bass grooves, fast punk rock beats, and exemplary fills. There are a lot of breakdown type parts on this record like in “Second Star To The Right” and at the end of “Out Of Control.” But as Thieves aren’t competing in some let’s see who can sound the heaviest competition that most bands with breakdowns are doing these days, the breakdowns never come out cheesy and are a refreshing change of pace to the typical chugga chugga bullshit being mass produced in “metal.”
My favorite track on the record, “What Goes Around,” is a perfect example of the hardcore subconscious I spoke of that seems to seep through in each song. A random metal riff, backing screams from Chris Skiles, and blast-beat double bass emerge from the best drumming on the album and my favorite line, “One day you’ll be down on your luck all alone and I’ll be there to fuck you up.” That chorus has been stuck in my head for a few days now. The soft outro is a perfect way to bring one of the heaviest songs on the album to a close.
Billy Canino’s range is unbelievable. In “The Thought Alone” he shows his ability to shift drastically from soft and soothing to more aggressive and in your face. He has that nasally but in a good way style that works so well in conjunction with this genre of music. “Staying Up” is a great mid-album song as it offers a break from Theives hard-hitting style with just Canino’s voice and a clean guitar for the first minute. The song moves into a perfect youth sounding anthem joined by rolling drums, gang vocals, and a xylophone.
Nathan Helton and Andy Echavarria go together like peanut butter and jelly on this record. Together they keep the dynamic of the band constantly changing and keep things from getting stagnate—very hard for a twelve-song album. The second half of the album is just as strong as the first. “Slo-Motion” contains all of the crucial elements that make the band who they are and “Never Stop Writing” begins with one of my favorite breakdowns of the record. “An Open Road With An Open End” begins with just Canino and a raw acoustic guitar in the distance and moves into a classic pop-punk song with intricate lead guitar lines by Chris Skiles.
This album is such an album. I know that sounds weird but what I mean is that its solidarity and cohesiveness are remarkable. Perhaps because of the great scrutiny the album was approached with, it comes out flawless with not one second where you question what they’re doing. Just Give It Up, opposite to what you would assume from its title, is a very fun and inspiring forty-two minutes of music. I really enjoy this album and that is saying a lot from someone who rarely enjoys music of this style. Not only are they great musicians, but Thieves are also an extremely humble band that deserves every bit of recognition they receive. I have no doubt that major labels will be trying to scoop these guys up soon and we’ll be seeing them on the cover of Alternative Press. I also have no doubt that no matter what happens, Thieves will remain modest and will never lose sight of the reasons for playing music.
Rating: 9/10
Favorite Track: "What Goes Around"
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