The Sidekicks have made a statement with their latest full-length, Weight of Air. After a solid debut and last year’s excellent Sam 7″, The Cleveland, OH quartet have put out an album that shows an enormous growth and displays melodic brilliance in nearly all its verses, choruses and bridges. The songs are still rooted in their signature pop/punk exuberance, but the band has found a way to ascend past their designated punk rock niche.

Lead-singer/songwriter Steve Ciolek teams up with fellow crooner Matt Scheurmann for throat searing hooks that reach for the sky. The album begins softly with folk strums to go along with the piercing harmonies. The “campfire” sensibility is short lived, however, as attacking drums quickly introduce the first pop/punk anthem of the disc. Oh and anthems there are galore all over Weight of Air. “Almost the Same” combines all the bands signature elements in boisterous romp, while “Looking” provides one the catchiest tunes you’ll hear all year. Even the album’s slower songs, such as the soul-tinged “Small”, come off as clamorous sing-alongs. But perhaps the album’s defining moment comes in the form of “Learn to Live Without”, a ballad-esque tune that somehow manages to maintain every ounce of energy available. The song blends their strong folk-influences with their rock and roll urgency and brings the band to a new level. The song even ends with a retro dance riff!

The Sidekicks are one of the many bands today trying to break the mold of what a “punk” band is supposed be, however, I don’t think any of them have managed to be this catchy. The album was released through Red Scare Records and be on the lookout for them to come to your town soon.

Label: Red Scare

The Sidekicks “Small”