This 5-song extended play from this punk/pop outfit out of Pittsburgh, PA is a nice, anticipation-building teaser. They lay a bit more on the pop end of the spectrum than the punk, a bit reminiscent of Franz Ferdinand minus the artsy attitude, or a more mature Arctic Monkeys. The record kicks off with “Lean On It,” showcasing what will be featured through the rest of the record; a nice fat bass and drums foundation with well produced, mostly distorted guitars and infectious repetitive hooks that will be stuck in your head all day. The group seems to have gone through their punk maturation, channeling the Clash, the Ramones, and all the great British punk bands they pay homage to with their name, and now seem more focused on writing good pop songs. Fortunately, those influences can still be heard and, more importantly, felt, providing a nice steady sense of propulsion to their well-crafted songs. “Sick of Love” is just plain fun, and “Don’t Wait Up” is a perfect summer anthem, complete with handclaps, glockenspiel and a children’s choir. Lead singer Nic Snyder and his cohorts, Mark Solomich, Adam Shash, and Josh Sickels have put together a nice, tight, crisp package with It’s All Happening. It’s never a bad thing to leave one wanting more.
-- William Carey [July 12, 2008]
