Saturday Night Karaoke is a local band that has produced many joyful stuffs along their career. There has always been a great vibe to their gigs. The band just put out their newest EP called Dejection and this time the band does something different. Pandemic time hasn’t been a good thing for everyone and Saturday Night Karaoke captures how they are feeling at this time. Punk rock has always been a good catharsis for everyone and this goes for the band as well. It is captured by the artwork, which looks so much different their previous works. It's more like pouring out feelings that are drawn in canvases and I can see how messy it is.
Saturday Night Karaoke is a band that has been known for its hardworking ethic presented by the result of its publicity. The band has toured Japan twice, appeared on various pop punk compilations, putting out many records on abroad labels, and this what makes the band has grown its fanbase nationally and internationally. But it is not an easy task to do. Prabu, the frontman, says that pop punk sounds (Lookout! Records style) is definitely a new thing for Indonesian scene and he doubts that the style will make a bigger name in the local scene. I don't quite agree, ‘cause I see so much potential in Saturday Night Karaoke and I think this band will be something for Indonesian org-core scene someday.
The band's latest EP, Dejection, challenges its listener by presenting more serious content and more bitter lyrics. The EP starts with a song called "Dejection." As for composition, I think the band offers something new for the listener by putting a progression chord on the intro and it feels like an overture for the EP; it's not what Saturday Night Karaoke used to do with their music. The song is well composed indeed, in contrast to what the band used to offer to their listener (A straight-in-your-face music composition). The verse part is something different as well and I can hear a different type of melody vocal. For those expecting a joyful track, well this isn't your thing. I'm sorry.
The next track called "Padded Room". I love how the band put a bass line for its intro and guitar harmonization for its follow up. This kind of composition reminds me of Screeching Weasel in the Jughead era. I love the how the band puts the vocal melody on the verse and that's how the emotional vibe is delivered on this song. Also the chorus part is decorated by the drum pattern, which puts a space for anyone to sing along on this part. "Padded Room" sounds like desperate Ben Weasel putting his manic depression catharsis stamp on his songwriting.
The third track is called "Compro(de)mise." It's actually a track that fits their older sound, except for its lyrical content. I wonder why the band chose this song to be the single and not "Padded Room" instead?? Maybe the song leaves a more personal meaning the members?#@! God only knows! The chorus it has a vocal melody that is easy to sing to and also a simple lyric line that is easy to remember.
The last track is "Anywhere But Here". I love how the band puts this last track ‘cause it sounds like a calm-after-the-storm thing. It's a damn fine slower song that opens with a clean guitar sound. Then, what makes this song lovely is its vocal melody decorated on the verse part. Prabu's voice sounds totally rad on this track. It's actually a simple song that goes rad. I guess this is the first time the band put out a slower type of song and the guys did it right! This song sounds like Dr. Frank writes a more emo-esque type of song.
Well this record proves that pop punk can be serious sometimes and, as long as the musician execute it correctly, it will leave a good mark as well. I would guess that this type of Saturday Night Karaoke songwriting suggests how the band will sound in the near future. This record satisfies me!
