Orange County’s ‘Half Past Two’ release new album!
It’s 17 years since the Californian Ska Punk outfit played their first gig and this full album release entitled ‘Talk is Killing Me’ is their fourth, their first being ‘It’s About Time’ in 2009.
In all those years, the band have consistently produced and released some absolute bangers and this album is no different!
Kicking off with the full-on kick-you-up-the-arse pop-punk number ‘Barrier For Entry’, the album starts with a bang and if you’re feeling down, this will certainly perk you up! No Ska in this first track but worry not, there’s plenty to come throughout.
This is creeping into the next track ‘Lie To You’ and hits you full on with ‘Dominoes’, an awesome single release earlier this year and which I reviewed here.
‘In My Head’ is a great track – another that’s not leaning towards the Ska music sound but an awesome pop-punk offering nevertheless and actually one of my favourites on the album.
‘Curse The Universe’ brings back the Ska, pairing it with some heavy punk riffs – don’t know if this is in the bands live set, but if not, it should be!
The generous ska music offering continues with the next three tracks ‘I Don’t Dream Anymore’, a slower paced track, ‘Talk Is Killing Me’, which picks up the beat somewhat and will have you on your feet and ‘Give And Take’ which certainly won’t make you sit back down!
‘Our Playlist’ is a sweet, simple & beautiful acoustic track and is followed by ‘Never Saw Me’, which for some reason has my twisted brain picturing an early ‘No Doubt’ performing. This is no bad thing!
The album is rounded of perfectly with ‘Isolated Days’, which hits you like a runaway train and ‘Out Of Time’, finishing with some awesome ska-punk, supported with more heavy guitars and great brass – the perfect ending to what is a really really strong album! Not a weak track in sight!
Half Past Two’s sound is really tight and the album is produced perfectly. It’s out now on Bad Time Records and is available on sexy purple & red ‘cosmic swirl’ vinyl and CD here:
HALF PAST TWO “TALK IS KILLING ME” – Bad Time Records
Half Past Two web site
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Half Past Two on Instagram
Half Past Two on YouTube
Bad Time Records web site
Bad Time Records on Facebook
Bad Time Records on Instagram
Bad Time Records on YouTube
