If you’ve been waiting years to hear Mikey Erg ask, “Who’s your daddy,” well, you’re in luck. The band is back with their first new material since 2016 – having only released a 2016 EP since their initial 2008 breakup. This time it’s a four song EP titled Time and the Season, named after their cover of The Zombies’ hit of the same name.
I’m going to break this review into an a-side/b-side structure. Each side begins with an original followed by a cover. It’s almost like two singles.
“Ultimate Falsetto Book” is the return to action song Ergs fans have waiting for. It’s in that 4/4 pop-punk beat with Mikey Erg’s trademark romantic longing. The lyrics follow a love interest, but from an older perspective that’s ultimately pretty meta: it’s about the idea of attraction more than the relationship itself. This song alone is worth the price for most Ergs fans. “Say You’re Sorry” is a cover of The Remains, throwing some eastly SoCal punk licks into a ‘60s garage rocker.
Flipping sides:
“Half Empty Strip Mall” feels like the culmination of the Ergs’ many influences. It’s very strongly sing-along style pop-punk, but the guitar is a little heavier and the rhythm section is subtly pulling in some psyche rock style that gives a lifeblood to what should be a stale style by now. The song is urgent -- a descriptor I rarely use when talking reunion records -- and earnest too. You know, trademark Ergs. It’s also a fitting segue to “Time and the Season,” a ‘60s hit that highlights the band’s influences in similar fashion to their 2007 cover of “Hey Jealousy.” It fits their catalog surprisingly well when, on paper, your first impression is to raise your eyebrows. I have to admit it’s a fairly divisive song for me, as I just can’t get over some of those lyrics (mentioned at the start) which make it hard for me to take it seriously. But it’s nice to see a reunited band throw a kinda-sorta curveball like this. It’s not just a b-side, after all. It’s the title track.
While The Ergs! is generally lumped in the Descendents-meets-Lookout Records pop-punk world, they’re far more diverse -- especially as they grow their discography. Built on a “song about a girl” foundation, they run deeper and more complex while maintaining an accessible pop core that’s easy to bop your head and sing along with. At the same time, there are subtle grunge flourishes and throwbacks to the early days of pop rock, brought to the forefront with the Zombies cover here. Perhaps it’s a cover for the sake of a cover. Perhaps it’s a message that future Ergs! material will delve more deeply in those rooted, classic sounds with less of a “1-2-3-4” vibe.
The band has multiple EPs planned for 2022, so we shall soon find out. After revisiting Upstairs/Downstairs recently and listening heavily to Mikey’s 2021 solo record, I wouldn’t be surprised to see their sound change as their reanimation continues. The two originals are classic Ergs, while the covers do a little less for me. 8.0 for originals, 7.0 for reviews. Meet in the middle at a 7.5.
