Modern Baseball - You're Gonna Miss It All

Modern Baseball – You’re Gonna Miss It All

written by: Mitch Keiffer January 29, 2014

Release Date: February 11, 2014

Genres of music are cyclical. In some cases this is merely annoying—see the resurgence of worn out ,’80s-influenced electropop—but in others, it’s a blessing. Modern Baseball’s You’re Gonna Miss It All is a throwback to the emo era that sounds neither tired nor forced.

Reviving the emo scene of past decades and adding modern indie-pop elements is becoming an increasingly popular trend, and such passion is much needed to counteract impersonal popular music. Thank the music gods for that benediction.

Though it’s been going on for years now, emo-revival is peaking in both popularity and quality now. The most recent addition to the ever-growing list of instant classics from this genre is You’re Gonna Miss It All, which plays closely to The Front Bottoms and You Blew It!

Combining genuine lyrics with musical influences that range from garage-rock jams to acoustic ballads, Modern Baseball has a charming, intimate air that springboards its music into the heart of all who get drawn in by the quartet’s celebrated songwriting.

Thankfully, the group hasn’t changed almost at all since its popular debut release Sports. If anything, it’s honed in on its best qualities and capitalized on them this time around.

Brendan Lukens writes more honest, melancholy lyrics on You’re Gonna Miss It All, and still sings in his outlandish style; guitarist Jacob Edwards, bassist Ian Farmer, and drummer Sean Hubber complement his unique characteristics with a limitless arsenal of even catchier instrumentals. The band employs a tighter mix, more elaborate songwriting, and a wider range of styles.

Essentially everything that made Sports so great was enhanced for the band’s sophomore attempt.

There are the moments on YGMIA that sound like they were pulled from Modern Baseball’s debut, specifically the single “Rock Bottom” and the exuberant “Broken Cash Machine.” Both have the quirky elements that have always made the Maryland quartet endearing, especially in the lyrics. Lukens shakily sings, “My head is on the verge of exploding/No amount of pizza or aspirin could help this from hurting,” over characteristically catchy, rhythm-heavy music.

But above all, You’re Gonna Miss It All has a lot of new experimentation. Songs like “Apartment” and “The Old Gospel Choir” have impressive, unexpected breakdowns that add entirely new elements to the music.

“Apartment” jumps from style to style seamlessly, opening with a slow, quiet riff and taking a running start into whirlwind verses and rhythmic breakdowns. “The Old Gospel Choir” runs much the same, slowing at the end in an epic, steady collapse.

There’s a bit of vocal experimentation as well, though it’s still predominantly similar to what fans have come to love. Single “Your Graduation” shows off Lukens’ sometimes hidden skills as a singer, exploring a more aggressive approach than he usually does. It’s a surprise, given his typically frail style, and a refreshing twist that makes “Your Graduation” one of the best tracks on the record. More variation like this would build on the band’s already wide scope and help intensify its dynamic catalog.

The most exotic song has to be the closing track, “Pothole,” which is nothing more than a soft acoustic elegy that perfectly ends the otherwise hectic tracklist. Lukens’ vocals sound more polished than usual, his lyrics more mature. It’s an unexpected turn of events, especially following the zany “Two Good Things,” but it fits impeccably.

You’re Gonna Miss It All is another first-rate release from a band that is proving to be one of the best in the emo-revival genre. Modern Baseball was able to fully realize its potential, releasing the rare sophomore album that outshines its predecessor.