Punk with mighty fine roots
San Luis Obispo has been branded "the happiest city in America" and, based on the strength of twelve-track "I Revival", the Californian people can consider themselves even luckier, thanks to the ability to call upbeat threesome The Mighty Fine one of their very own. The album presents a stimulating blend of punk, rock and roots traits, with tightly-paired vocal harmonies proving to be influential in crafting a punchy sound coated with melodiousness.
Although the harmonies of frontman Brook Thompson and bass guitarist Mikey Castillo do find themselves employed relatively frequently, it is often when they are used more sparingly that they actually seem more effective. A fine example of this is the beginning of each 'Now You Know' chorus, where the pair initially begin in unison, only to divide their vocal lines as the melody leaps.
The Mighty Fine may have everything going for them in the tunefulness division, but a punk outfit is nothing without pummelling instrumentation to act as a driving force. Thankfully, the American three piece have the sturdy power of drummer Chris Scott at the helm to fuel tracks such as 'Flow' and 'Fragments'. The anthemic quality that 'Big Inconvenience' initially assumes acts as a welcome meander in direction, before returning to the fuller punkier sound that continues to impress when considering that the troupe consists of only three.
The gentle vocal harmonies that occupy the introduction of 'Ambassadors' bizarrely has a slight Red Hot Chili Peppers-like quality to it, but unsurprisingly this similarity disperses swiftly as the song kicks into life. Fast shifting 'Paper Trails' does a superb job of helping the album sustain momentum, with the verses particularly driven by bassist Castillo.
The Mighty Fine will no doubt have wanted to follow up their self-released full length album, "Bad Timing For Everything", with a crunching collection of explosive tracks and the Californian ensemble can regard this as a success. "In Revival" is a rousing release from the trio and you should certainly not be shocked if you happen to find yourself revisiting tracks like 'To Indiana' and 'Now You Know' again and again. If bands like Against Me! normally reside in your playlists, this pumping album should be one worth checking out.