Review: Somewhere in the Between
Looking Back at Streetlight Manifesto's 2007 Second Original Ska LP
Nov 11, 2008
The second album of original material by Streetlight Manifesto, Somewhere in the Between, shows a marked improvement in the band's sound. This isn't to say that their debut, Everything Goes Numb, or their re-release of singer Tomas Kalnoky's album with Catch 22 Keasbey Nights weren't spectacular, but Somewhere in the Between accents everything the band does well and loses everything they don't.
The CD features impressive horn melodies and solos as well as chilling lyrics that are stuffed into heavy, breakneck ska songs. The music doesn't slow down often, but the album also doesn't feel like it is crowded, and it both sounds good and makes a listener think.
Somewhere in the Between's Instrumentation and Changes
In the four years it took Streetlight Manifesto to write a new album, the band made significant changes to their playing style while managing to keep their sound accessible and recognizable to fans. A major change in musicality between albums is the interplay seen between the melodies in the horns and the rhythms of the bassline, guitar, and drums.
Each instrument has its moment in the limelight—Chris Thatcher gets a plethora of breaks which highlight his skill as a talented ska drummer—but the horns in particular shine throughout the album.
Despite the band's tendency to throw as many solos into their songs as possible, Somewhere in the Between doesn't feel overcrowded. Some of the songs that top five minutes (mainly “The Receiving End of it All”) drag around the middle, but they always pick back up and have ska's trademark over-the-top finish.
Although the album could do with some slower moments—virtually the only ones are thirty-second breaks like the intro to “One Foot on the Gas, One Foot in the Grave”—Streetlight Manifesto has clearly decided to abandon their reggae influences and stick with the ska-punk.
Tomas Kalnoky's Lyrical Differences on New Album
Another big change on Somewhere in the Between is that of its lyrics. Tomas Kalnoky, songwriter/lead vocalist/lead guitarist for Streetlight Manifesto, has greatly shifted from his introspective lyrics on Everything Goes Numb. While their debut contemplated loss, personal failure, and suicide, their newest album has a more extroverted feel, although it is equally dark. The opening track, “We Will Fall Together”, introduces the concept of “we” instead of an “I” with its chorus “And if we fall/We will fall together/No one will catch us, so we'll catch ourselves.”
Somewhere in the Between seems more hopeful than its predecessors, acknowledging death but urging a listener to live their life to the fullest. This is echoed throughout the title track, which ends with “Someday soon my friends, this ride will come to an end/But we can't just get in line again.” The album's lyrics express Kalnoky's desire for personal fulfillment, and they are much more cheerful than his angst-ridden work on Keasbey Nights and Everything Goes Numb.
9.0/10—It might have taken four years for Streetlight Manifesto to release new material, but Somewhere in the Between is well worth the wait. It showcases all of the band's musical talent, polishes their flaws, and adds cheer and acceptance to the once-dark lyrics of Tomas Kalnoky. An enjoyable listen for any fan of the band, of ska music, or even a curious listener.
Somewhere in the Between is released on Victory Records. Follow Streetlight Manifesto online.
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