Otitis Media Records – 29 July 2022
A collection of superb, melodic, sing-a-long punk rock songs that will quickly rise to the top of your playlist
Dropped Out are a pop punk trio from Austin Texas. The new album Get Lost, officially released on 29 July 2022, is a collection of superb, melodic, sing-a-long punk rock songs that will quickly rise to the top of your playlist.
The pop-punk arena is bigger than I ever imagined it would be. I grew up listening to the Ramones, Queers and Mr. T Experience. In the late 90s, the Ramones-core scene grew exponentially with Mutant Pop Records and others introducing the world to some amazing bands. Nowadays, the scene is saturated. For a band to stand out in this crowd requires solid production, unique songwriting and catchy songs that have listeners wanting to hit the repeat button. Dropped Out checks all the boxes with Get Lost. Not only have they created an exceptional album, they have also developed a distinct style that is difficult to directly compare to any other pop-punk band in the scene today.
Lead singer and guitarist for Dropped Out, Dave Cavallo, explained that the album was recorded by renowned Austin, TX recording engineer Drew LeClair. “This is our third record, but part of me sees it as our first,” he said. “It’s the first record we actually had someone record us professionally. The other records I recorded and mixed. And while they are not terribly recorded, they just aren’t as good as I wish they could have been or near how good Drew got us sounding. He was really easy to work with and just knew how to get the best out of us.”
The album kicks off with the song “I’m Still Alive.” A great song with powerful and emotional lyrics. Dave discussed the meaning behind the song during a recent interview on the Dummy Room podcast, stating the song was written in response to the loss of a friend to suicide in 2016. “I have written a lot about how I’m dealing with that,” he said. “Most of my songwriting is along the lines of regretting something.”
The band describe themselves as late 90s, early 2000’s inspired pop-punk rock and I can definitely hear some influences from that era. Bands like Millencolin, Lagwagon, and No Use For a Name come to mind when I listen to Get Lost, though Dropped Out has developed a unique sound of their own.
“If I had to choose core influences that kind of molded how I think about music, writing and singing, I’d have to break it up in parts,” Dave said. “As far as guitar playing goes, The Mr. T Experience and Green Day would be pretty high up on the list. Singing, I would have to probably say Alkaline Trio. Banner Pilot was a pretty big game changer for me as well. Tron Carter (our drummer) is influenced by Bill Stevenson/Descendents and our new bass player, Ryan Searls, loves Mike Watt. I think we all have slightly different influences and styles. We like a lot of the same punk and non-punk stuff, but also at different intensities.”
One of my favorite songs on the album and an instant pop punk classic, is the energetic sing-a-long titled “Nicola.” During the Dummy Room interview, Dave elaborated on how he wrote the song. “I’m a courier so I visit a lot of different businesses. Nicola was some random receptionist I used to see all of the time,” he said. “I put together Nicola / get to know ya and threw the song together while I was driving. I didn’t have a crush on this girl or anything, her name is just singable.”
“Quitter” is another melodic song that really grabbed my attention. The production is tight, with crisp stops and starts, well balanced backup vocals and the classic punk rock snare beat throughout. The lyrics evoke feelings of depression and stagnation, but also suggest a glimmer of hope for the future and the determination to move forward.
Other standout tracks include “From the Inside Out,” “The Last Person on Earth” and the super catchy “Coronary Thrombosis.”
The album wraps up with a cover of Teen Idols classic hit “20 Below.” The cover song is really well done and completely fits the mood of the album. The female (Heather) part is sung by Rosie from Hans Gruber and the Die Hards.
Get Lost is a gem from start to finish. The well written songs are full of catchy pop punk that are new, yet so familiar it feels like I’ve rediscovered a long lost friend. The production quality is outstanding and well balanced. The vocals are smooth and come through clear, allowing listeners to hear every word. And, while the lyrics may come across as depressing at times, the upbeat music balances it out. Every listen of this album brings a smile to my face.
