Buffalo, New York’s Pentimento are the quieter, more subdued side of punk rock. With throwbacks in their music to the emo scene of the ‘90s, their second full-length, ‘I, No Longer’ is 12 tracks of beautifully crafted, honest punk goodness.
From the opening chords of ‘Small Talk for Strangers’, you get a real sense of scale in Pentimento’s music. As soft as it is huge, it has all the redeeming qualities of Jimmy Eat World, with the modern feel of bands like Modern Baseball and notably, Real Friends. Tracks like ‘My Solution Is in the Lake’, ‘Sink or Swim’ and ‘Stuck Forever’ are stand out examples of the maturity and growth that Pentimento have gone through since the release of their debut.
Through international touring, live sessions, and more time spent in the studio, ‘I, No Longer’ feels more like the work of seasoned, experienced musicians – brimming with confidence, making the music that they want to make, and challenging the boundaries of the genre they are labelled into.
“But soon enough, I’ll grow into a body that you have never touched. You’ll shed your skin between the sheets where you’re making memories without me.”, Jeramiah Pauly croons over ‘Stuck Forever’, with its jangly guitars and monster of a chorus, demonstrating a Wonder Years-esque lyrical prowess.
Yet for every sombre track, there’s a really rising, anthemic track, like that of ‘Slow but Sure’ – packed with subtle harmonies, big melodies, and a bounce that you can’t help but dance to. The success of ‘I, No Longer’ is the yin and yang – the slow, mellow tracks to the dance along numbers.
A good record is a collection of great songs, a great record tells a story, and a brilliant record takes you on a journey – filled with emotional escapism. On ‘I, No Longer’, Pentimento achieve just that. Stunning, calm, heartbreaking and uplifting, it is a triumph and a joy to listen to.
CHRIS ROBINSON