I have probably talked about this before, I knew of Moonraker through split EPs and things like that, but they didn't fully pop into my consciousness until The Forest. Me and the Bells, four years later, is their follow-up full-length and it continues the trajectory from that record while still capturing its own distinct vibe.
Musically the band is heavily influenced by '90s punk on the music and song structure side with more modern, personal lyrics. I cited NOFX and SoCal sounds last time and that's still relevant, but with some more raspy, slightly screamier vocals in the call and response this time, recalling Lawrence Arms at times.
The lyrics tell a story that's often through a first-person experience, focusing on social anxiety and inner discomfort. The songwriting really stands out. It relies on heavy-handed metaphors and description that almost mocks "the old art school" teachings of subtlety [e.g. "I could fight a minotaur!" in "Portrait of the Artist as a (sort of) Young Man"], while showcasing a clear understanding of storytelling. In an interview, they talked about an interest in film and I think they truly grasp how to build tension and flow, knowing just the right point to slap in an over-the-top simile or an f-bomb.
I'll admit this record took a few listens to really click. I think that's due to bias, as I'm still super into The Forest. And this record is similar, but the band has grown -- which, of course, is a good thing. To go a little deeper though, the first singles didn't hit me the same way on streaming platforms -- even though the statistics say they are among the band's most popular songs ever. It's more a sum of its parts album, where listening to Me and the Bells is a mood or an experience and not just some hook-driven pop-punk 3-minute bursts meant for the gym or a car commercial. For all the mockery of art school-like topics, what I'm saying is that this is punk rock but it's also some damn fine art that just happens to be made with three power chords and a lot of self-deprecation.
