ALBUM REVIEW: The Disassociates – No Reason This Can’t Be Fun (self-released)
The Disassociates are a new-to-me four-piece band from Southern California and No Reason This Can’t Be Fun is their debut album.
The band (not to be confused with similarly-named London punks The Dissociates) are four long-time friends – vocalist Brie Marie, guitarist Jordan Sutton, drummer Michael Bonanno, and bassist Justin Pittman – who each bring something to the table.
They emerged last year with their singles I Don’t Wanna and 30mg, which are both included on this eight-track full-length, which fuses elements of alternative rock, power-punk and metal.
Marie calls it “a completely open and honest look into coping with life and all the struggles that come with it”, and that fairly sums it up.
The Disassociates’ sound sits somewhere between the emo-tinged alt rock of Paramore and the pop-punk of The Dollyrots and it’s very infectious, full of hooks and melody, and packed with songs about serious subjects.
Things kick off with Trigger Warning, whose syrupy rock ‘n’ roll intro about putting life on hold to deal with mental health struggles turns into a pop-punk anthem.
30mg is their ode to relying on anti-depressants to get through the trials and tribulations of modern-day life. It’s acoustic, which leaves space for Marie’s beguiling voice to “Thank god those 30 milligrams/Keep saving me from who I am.”
Suicidal feelings
The lead single I Don’t Wanna is one of the catchiest things you’ll hear this year, even though it’s about dealing with suicidal feelings.
For me it’s the standout track as Marie sings: “But I know I don’t really wanna die/But I don’t really wanna be alive/I kinda wanna quit this game of life/It sucks and I hate it/But death’s overrated.”
Happy is an ironic title, as it sounds nothing but. It’s a melancholy-drenched song about dealing with anxiety and depression, which are recurrent themes on this album.
The importance of checking in on people who might be struggling is the subject of Close Friends, another acoustic number which sees Marie singing “I’m a little stressed out, I’m not Kurt fucking Cobain”.
Ghost With No Stories delves into post-hardcore territory in places, while the introspective Inner Child is about needing to be loved, but the epic closer Burn It Down is the weakest track here, and, at more than eight minutes, way too long.
It’ll be interesting to see if The Disassociates can vary their subject matter a little on whatever comes next, but for now this is a very promising introduction to a band with a lot of potential. 7/10.
- You can stream The Disassociates album No Reason This Can’t Be Fun HERE.
