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Socratic - Spread the Rumors

Rating

RIYL

Waking Ashland
Something Corporate
Jack’s Mannequin

Tracklist

1. Boy In A Magazine
2. Haven't Seen You In Years
3. May I Bum A Smoke
4. Janis Joplin Hands
5. Long Distance Calls
6. Constant Apology
7. Relevant Elephant
8. Spread The Rumors
9. Don't Say
10. This Opinion Of Mine
11. Diamond In A World Of Coal
12. Another Headache

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Who would have thought that an album with a cover so terrible could be so good? Socratic’s sophomore effort, Spread the Rumors, is a surprisingly catchy, intelligent pop-rock record, one of the best to come off of the Drive-Thru label in some time. Boasting Mark Hoppus (you may have heard of him) as their producer, the band play to their strengths, never trying to overextend the album either musically or lyrically. Socratic work within their comfort zone, relying on their hooks to carry the songs, instead of trying to expand or morph their core sound (take notes Panic! at the Disco).

Spread the Rumors builds on the promise of their 2005 debut Lunch for the Sky; refining their sound, the band play more cohesively, their songs flowing seamlessly into one another. Socratic rely on pretty simplistic rhythms, delivering their lyrics in accordance with the utmost care and pop-sugariness lending a kind of sardonic bite to the songs. On the acoustic number, “Long Distance Calls,” the band pulls off what on paper could have been a disaster, making lines like “everyone is working hard / mother’s got a shit job / daddy got a blow job / divorce ain’t free,” break free of any kind of sophomoric tone they may suggest. By playing the role of a simple pop band, Socratic give their music more of an edge than a change of sound or style would have lent.

While songs like “Boy in a Magazine,” “Janis Joplin Hands,” and “Long Distance Calls” coast by on classic pop-punk hooks, the latter half of the album drags, each song not doing enough to distinguish it from the one before, making Spread the Rumors feel lop-sided. When Socratic don’t have a hook to bank the song on, the band falls apart, relying too much on mid-tempo experiments, mostly coming up empty handed. Against the bland musical backdrop, the lyrics feel bland, unable to have the same bite or catchiness as they had a few songs before.

But aside from a weak song here and there, Spread the Rumors is easily one of the best records to come out of Drive-Thru in a while, sounding more genuine than the gimmicks of Hellogoodbye and more diverse than House of Fools. While it falls short of being a great record, Spread the Rumors is certainly a good one with enough songs to keep any pop addict satiated for a while.

--Matt McGraw