London/Midlands Punk/Pop trio Spring Park is back again in the public eye with their follow-up to the brilliant anti-Christmas belter “Happy Holidays”. This time around they deliver a high energy, double A side single “In My Head/Otherside”. “In My Head” opens with a chugging guitar beat amid Scott’s thumping drums. That clangy Green Day-influenced guitar sound is once again apparent while Stew’s layered vocals are much clearer than on previous recordings. I’m assuming the lyrical content is an ode to an ex-partner? The noodly bridge is well structured as it seeps back into the chorus at the end. To achieve the classic three-minute song I feel they could’ve shaved the ‘2nd bridge’ off the end, but that’s down to opinion I suppose. That said it is (IMO) their most radio-friendly release to date.
‘Otherside’ has a chunky guitar intro matched to a throbbing bass. Again that Billy-Joe ‘esque muffled vocal style gives way to a yet more American/Punk vocal delivery. Simplistic in its lyrical content with another noodly bridge and hitting as heavy as ever.
If I’m going to be hyper-critical then “In My Head” should be the main single with “Otherside” as a B-side – it sounds more like an album track or live set-closer, although that could be open to debate.
One wonders where Spring Park will go from here once bassist Ant departs. These are large boots to fill yet everything else is in place. They have built up a good head of steam with a succession of great releases so we shall watch and listen with interest. Spring Park is that rarity in that they take the American ‘Pop/Punk’ template and create their own ‘Punk/Pop’ British sound, with a smattering of other influences from the genre.
Band members
Ant- Bass/Backing
Scott-Drums/Backing
Stew- Guitar/Vocals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBnOB7BkDLw
Links
http://www.springpark.bigcartel.com
https://www.facebook.com/springparkuk
Review by Ross A. Ferrone.
