I’ve heard plenty of comparisons of Modern Baseball with other bands. Truth is, when you really pick the music apart, you’ll realize that this young band is going down its own path. Sports was a very successful release for the band, as listeners were instantly captivated by quirky/relatable lyrics and creative songwriting. Modern Baseball was picked up by Run for Cover – who recently announced that the young band’s sophomore LP, You’re Gonna Miss It All, would be released February 11. There was a lot of buzz and expectations thrown at the band following the announcement because of the success that Sports provided. To say the least, Modern Baseball definitely dodged the “sophomore slump” bullet. The record opens with “Fine, Great,” a song that is nothing too unfamiliar, but still fresh. Instantly, your ears are ambushed by those catchy Modern Baseball melodies and relatable lyrics. “Broken Cash Machine” keeps the momentum going – almost speeding it up a bit. This song has a very mesmerizing chorus, with one of the coolest riffs Modern Baseball has used yet. Following that is “Rock Bottom,” making use of some great melodies and backing-vocal “oooh”s. At this point, I felt that the band’s playful lyrics are evened out by the more serious songwriting. “Apartment” shows the biggest change in sound out of the first few tracks. It starts off a bit slower, but then it’s thrown into a borderline punk melody. This happens after one of those signature Modern Baseball lines that is spoken, rather than sung. It gives you a nice laugh before you start bobbing your head. The song also has a bit more of an aggressive break towards the middle, which was surprising and very cool.
“The Old Gospel Choir” was one of my instant favourites upon my first listen. It starts with a riff and drum part that go together seamlessly. It also feels a bit dark for the first minute, but picks up pretty quickly into a fast-paced duet from the two vocalists. The song also features one of my favourite endings in a Modern Baseball track yet. “Notes” feels very mature, or almost classic – especially coming after “The Old Gospel Choir,” which seems to be the fun track of the record. “Charlie Black” is very in-your-face and loud. It feels like Modern Baseball aimed for the basic verses-chorus rock song, but with a twist when it comes to this one. The fuzz and feedback at the end of “Charlie Black” fades right into “Timmy Bowers.” This song feels very dreamy. It’s one of those songs you could fall asleep to; in the good way, of course. It’s probably the biggest surprise on You’re Gonna Miss It All.
Track nine is “Going to Bed Now.” It’s pretty simple to describe this song; it’s fun and extremely catchy. The lyrics are almost comedic, but don’t make you take the song any less seriously. “Your Graduation” was another instant favourite. It’s for sure the most grown-up song that Modern Baseball has created, especially sonically. It has a cool vocal spot from what I believe is the drummer, but don’t quote me on that. Overall, it’s a very energetic track. “Two Good Things” continues to climb and climb as the song goes on. After building upon itself, the song hits its peak and fades out with a very soothing instrumental. “Pothole,” the closing track, was another big surprise. It is an acoustic track that feels as if it just drifts along to the end of the record. It’s very peaceful and soothing. It also features some of the most emotional lyrical content ever from the band. “Pothole” is a great way to close You’re Gonna Miss It All.
Overall, if you loved Sports, you’re probably going to thoroughly enjoy You’re Gonna Miss It All. It has all the highlights of the first LP, but it feels like the older, smarter sibling. Modern Baseball also gets in touch with their maturity – lyrically and sonically – on the record. It’s a great step forward for this young indie band with a punk rock mentality. You’re Gonna Miss It All showcases everything that Modern Baseball has showed us in the past, plus more. The record has wittiness, laughs, melodies, incredible songwriting and the newly emerged mature/emotional side of the band. Just imagine that Sports has a more intelligent, fun, older brother.
