Mom’s Basement Records – 05 July 2024
Progressive sophomore effort from these Canadian pop punkers!
The Follow Ups are a Canadian band who have been operating in the pop punk bubble for just under a decade. They bring to the table a lot more than just standard four-to-the-floor punk rock. Unique vocals combined with great songwriting sets them apart from many of their peers. This band first came on my radar a few years back on the Ramonescore Brigade compilation. Their song “Hey Yo (The Ballad of Razor Ramon)” was one of my favorite songs of 2020. Following a full-length release and countless other appearances, the band is back with a new album. Know Who Your Friends Aren’t is a rush of energy much needed in an oversaturated scene.
“Freak’n Out” kicks off this 14-song set of punk rock fury. This quick banger is complete with tasteful time changes and snotty vocal delivery. This tempo is repeated throughout the album on various other tracks as well. Songs like “I’m From Botswana” and “Reverso” will take you back to the first time you heard the Angry Samoans. As stated above, the lead vocal for me is a game changer with The Follow Ups. The band is well versed in the talents of Joey Vindictive of the Vindictives, Chris Barrows from Pink Lincolns and Johnny Puke from Cletus. They are a perfect blend of melody and punk rock grit.
The Follow Ups are no one trick pony though. They also have crafted some extremely memorable and thought-provoking songs on this album. “Not Alone” could easily be featured on commercial or satellite radio. A catchy vocal line is featured over Screeching Weasel influenced guitar leads. “Texas Chainsong” tells everyone’s favorite tale of the chainsaw swinging mass murderer Leatherface. These eerie lyrics are combined with nice and loose guitar strumming and good vocal range. This song builds effectively from the pre-chorus through to the chorus. The song “Clue” pays homage to the Halloween movie series. This song puts visuals in your head though in a sugary sweet way with killer harmonies. “The Scary Bop” must be the most fun track on the album. The song boasts great vocal rhyming about people they know who live at the mortuary. This song is about a new dance craze that rivals the Cretin Hop!
Somewhere inbetween harmony and aggression lays The Follow Ups tackling classic Ramonescore.”I Wanna Be With Someone” is your classic love song where the instrumentation follows the vocal melody. The highlight of this song is the catchy bridge which is a staple for this style of song. The short and silly “Unhappy Birthday” is equally catchy and snotty. The album closer “Organism 46b” shows the band taking a darker Ramonescore direction. Listeners will be reminded of later era Lillingtons on this track. There is some impressive instrumentation in the outro of this track which sets it apart from the rest of the album.
The Follow Ups have delivered a well-balanced sophomore outing with this release. An album like this showcases the various influences other bands had in developing the band’s sound. An album like this one appeals to myself greatly as I have a wide open music pallet. I can listen to this album and never grow tired or bored. Albums that stick to only one style with little variation don’t catch my attention, as nothing stands out. I have a feeling the band will be gaining many new fans. I look forward to “following up” on the growth of The Follow Ups.
I am mostly known in cyberspace as a vinyl junkie and punk rock bassist! Fair assessment. I am the bassist of the Chicago area power pop / pop punk band SPACE AGE ZEROS.
Amazing review! The Follow Ups deserve all the hype if anything is missing here it’s that you forgot to mention it’s a co-release with Faster and Louder Records from Canada!