The early 2000s brought a massive pop-punk movement, and as a kick-in-the-teeth reminder of how long ago that was, many bands are celebrating the 10 year anniversary of their releases.
One of which was Yellowcard’s Ocean Avenue and now a decade later the album has been commemorated with an acoustic re-release.
Although acoustic, the full band is used and so the original structure and tempo don’t differentiate a great deal from the original recordings.
While it would have been refreshing to hear a complete rearrangement there are quirks throughout the album, “Empty Apartment” accentuates what made Yellowcard different at the time with violinist Sean Mackin sounding stunning in the foreground, and a country flair is brought to “Miles Apart” with the alliance of the violin and acoustic guitar.
It also helps that vocalist Ryan Key is able to excel in front of a softer sound.
Choosing to make more of an effort instead of a simple re-release is a testament to not only the fans but shows an appreciation to the album that made Yellowcard.
It is also a reminder of how superb it still is and when thinking back to the top pop-punk albums of that time, Ocean Avenue is undeniably on everyone’s list.
