Album Review: Saturdays At Your Place, These Things Happen

Written By Christian Cole, OOTB Publications

Over the last few years a band from the heart of Kalamazoo, Michigan has been growing in popularity inside the realm of modern emo pop-punk.

From basement shows to shared bills with fellow up-and-comer Carly Cosgrove and nearly sold-out gigs with post-emo giants like Hot Muligan, the band has seen some fairly rapid growth and amassed themselves quite a cult following.

That band, Saturdays At Your Place, is about to release upon the world their second full-length LP These Things Happen; and it is a true Midwestern dream.

These Things Happen kicks off with a beautiful, albeit short, acoustic instrumental reminiscent of the days of bands like Modern Baseball and peak-era Tigers Jaw; fading out into feedback as we jump right into pop-punk tendencies with “Cross My Heart.”

An immediate show of the skill set that has garnered the band its popularity, we kick off into an incredibly solid second release from a band well loved amongst the modern emo community.

“I wanna waste away until I’m nothing but a memory/I wanna lay in place ‘til I’m nothing at all” boasts the intro to “Waste Away” against thumping bass and chugging, cinematic power chords. An avalanche of emotion folding in upon the listener, engulfed already in a sound perfected by the young Michiganders.

The shared vocal duty that has helped solidify the band’s sound shows well on “What Am I Supposed To Do,” which opens up like a list of questions laid upon an ex-lover, a coming to terms or lack thereof, an emotional whirlwind with subtle but necessary keyboard laid in the background of the first half. Rising in angst in such a natural way, it’s hard not to feel goosebumps rising as the track progresses.

“Forest Bubbles” feels like an instant classic acoustic-emo track, a possible future fan favorite. Catchy, spacious and a solid switch up in sonic direction.

Up next, we get a beautiful and nostalgic ode to getting back home with “I’d Rather Be In Michigan,” complete with solid harmonies and self-reflecting lyricism; short, sweet and punchy.

“Strawberry” is twinkly and atmospheric, a tell tale staple of the brand of emo hailing so perfectly from the Midwest.

With “Stay” we lean a little closer into pop-punk territory; gorgeous riffs laying in between the chord structure lending us back to the post-emo values that make Saturdays At Your Place so special amongst fans.

The open and ambient chords of “Loon Mobile Part 3” feel like home, it feels like Autumn in the Midwest and the lyrical content matches it so perfectly. A solid near-end-out to a truly perfect sophomore LP.

With end track “I Give In,” we get some of the most beautiful vocal deliveries across the entire LP, laid against slow rolling acoustic strumming, an air of seriousness surrounding us. Sweet vocal highs, snuggled against lyrics detailing emotional lows. A track that starts so somber and grows into something cinematic and explosive, an incredible wrap up to an album worth waiting for. It feels like watching the end credits roll after a film about your youth, one that highlighted each and every high and low. A memoir of youth in the Midwest.

Saturdays At Your Place have proven again and again over the last few years that they, by all means, do not lack steady growth: as a unit, as individual musicians, as lyricists.

While we near the end of the year, I find it safe to say that this album, These Things Happen, is the best offering that the genre has to give this entire calendar year. It is sweet and sour, punchy, slow and somber, bold and brash. It’s twinkly. It’s quirky.

These Things Happen is a near perfect release from a band still so young in their career. It’s hard to imagine what lays ahead for such a solid and young group, but I do know that the unimaginable future is a quite hopeful place, not just for Saturdays At Your Place, but for fans and newcomers alike.

Rating

4.7/5

Favorite Tracks

“cross my heart”

“i give in”

Tracklist

1. welcome

2. cross my heart

3. waste away

4. what am i supposed to do?

5. forest bubbles

6. i’d rather be in michigan