Yellowcard – Better Days
Yellowcard – Better Days
Better Noise Music
Release Date: 10/10/2025
Review by Beth Morait
8/10
You probably know by now that my musical taste is a pretty broad spectrum, with Classical at one end, and Progressive Metalcore at the other. Anything and everything in between is fair game, especially anything rooted in my formative years, the late 90s! Yellowcard are an American Pop-Punk band that fit nicely into that category. Formed in 1997, and with their 2003 “Ocean Avenue” album going platinum, they were a force to be reckoned with… Until their split in 2017, with differences within the bad being the reason. They say time heals, though, and that’s what’s happened here, meaning Yellowcard made their return in 2022. And they’re now preparing to release their new album, “Better Days”.
From the very first bar, you know you’re in for a deliciously melodic and accessible album that really is the definition of Pop-Punk. It’s heavily influenced by one of my favourites, Green Day (incidentally, did anyone remember to wake them up last week? If not they’re gonna be pissed!), but it’s slightly more mellow, and features their signature hook – a violin! Who knew Pop-Punk and violin could go together?
Vocalist William Ryan Key has a lovely, sweet, ever-young vocal style, with an impressive range, which kind of reminds me of Chester Beddington, but without any gravel. It fits so well with this style, and is really prominent in the mix, meaning you can hear every word he says. And the absence of any vocal wizardry, whether that be with his organic singing, or as an addition post-production, makes his whole performance crystal.
Percussion duties are taken on by Blink 182’s Travis Barker, who navigates changes like the pro he is. And there are quite a few changes rooted within the music, as there’s a slightly more progressive edge to a few of the songs. Travis is also the executive producer of the album, and his experience in this area, and (reading between the lines) in general, helped William Ryan Key hugely. In the press release, Key says, “ I started the record as one version of myself and came out the other side changed… I went in knowing I needed help. I came out writing songs like I was 19 again.”
Travis isn’t the only guest that makes an appearance on this album either. ‘Love Letters Lost’ features Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba, and Avril Lavine turns the ballad ‘You Broke Me Too’ into a solid duet, with the vocal lines tracking each other, to great effect.
They certainly know how to write emotionally charged tunes that, on the forefront, just really accessible, nice songs, but, on closer inspection, really do have some profound things to say. It’s the wisdom of experience talking without a doubt.
Maybe somewhat predictably, the album ends with ‘Big Blue Eyes’, which is a stripped back, acoustic ballad, that’s just really… beautiful. I can’t think of any other way to describe it, but it just made me feel warm and nostalgic. And it shows that, despite the up-tempo, Punk volume, the band can bring it down into something that encapsulates that tenderness.
This album is about as classic as you could get in terms of Pop-punk, complete with singalong choruses, easy to follow melodies, and galloping rhythms that make you want to boogie. But somehow it also feels completely modern and current musically, as well as in its production. Now, that could just be my old ears believing that I’m still current. But I don’t think it is. I think looking at major grossing bands now, like The Funeral Portrait, and my hometown band Neck Deep, Yellowcard’s sound is still completely relevant, and up there with the best of the genre in the modern world.
If Pop-Punk is your thing, then you’ll find this album a pleasure to listen to. I do love a successful return to the scene. It gives us all a glimmer of hope.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Better Days
02. Take What You Want
03. Love Letters Lost (feat. Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio)
04. honestly i
05. You Broke Me Too (feat. Avril Lavigne)
06. City of Angels
07. Bedroom Posters
08. Skin Scraped
09. Barely Alive
10. Big Blue Eyes
LINKS:
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