Take equal parts The Gaslight Anthem, Menzingers and blue-collar arena rock like Tom Petty or Springsteen, with a dash of The Clash, Dave Hause, and American Steel, and you’ll have some idea of what to expect with The Penske File’s latest, Half Glow. The results are often mixed for me when punk bands lean toward classic rock and introspection. I’m not a fan of newer Pkew Pkew Pkew, but stuff like Spanish Love Songs can hit pretty hard. What’s that magic point where it clicks? It’s hard to define, just like with any art/music. For me it’s about the warmth, or the heart of it. Which is, of course, 100% arbitrary. To quote “Will We Ever Know” off this record, “No two people are the same.”
With song titles like “Bad Dreams,” “We’re Both Still Alive,” “Ride It Out, “ or “Cyanide Stories,” you’d think you’re in for some melancholy. But The Penske File aren’t about forlorn introspection. “Chorus Girl” is about a shared love of music, “Ride It Out” has a refrain ripped from a classic Simpsons gag, delivered deadpan enough that you’d miss it if you don’t pay attention, and I think the standout line on the record – wisely put in the opening “Bad Dreams” – sets a tone: “Mixing up your bible with Lord of the Flies.” I call out these details because they give this serious-sounding, punk-inspired rock both heart and personality. It’s warm, like talking to a friend, instead of cold, like overhearing somebody at the bar talking about their problems. It’s smart, but relatable, turning a few “writer phrases” along the way, but steering clear of drama or pretension.
Speaking to the music, the title Half Glow seemingly nods to their optimistic side. Overall the record is effective because it dabbles in the depressing while appealing directly to us, the listeners. Instead of wallowing, it’s relatable and commonfolk, with just enough pop culture and literary references scattered within to keep giving surprise twists. It makes you think while, just as important, it makes you sing along. A highlight of this balance may be “We’re Both Still Alive,” which sounds super cynical in writing but, when they put it to music, it soars like a victory song. They even give some warm, tinkling guitar notes on “Ride It Out” and, later in the same song, an enthusiastic “woo!” Broadly speaking, most of the musical tones feel uplifting rather than weighty. The same topics could feel dark and depressing, but The Penske File’s Half Glow instead finds the bright side.
