The Gamits

What do you get when you throw Jawbreaker and Alkaline Trio into a blender? One of the finest pop-punk albums of the year. The Gamits’ Parts takes a competent formula and uses it to keep the listener coming back for more.

It doesn’t take long to notice this trio has an ear for melody. Parts gets right into it with the album’s fast paced opener, “Falling Apart.” The title makes the lyrical content clear and sets the mood for the rest of Parts. Following “Falling Apart,” we get to “No One Cares Why Should I.” The most striking element of this song is how much Chris Fogal’s vocals resemble that of Blake Schwarzenbach’s. Not only that, but Fogal hits chords in a tone that would have felt right at home on Jawbreaker’s Dear You. The Gamits pick things back up with “This Shell.” Here's a song that revolves around coming to terms with one’s age and gives us a simple chorus that repeats,

“I am old! I am old! I am older than dirt! I am old!”

"This Shell" points out dealing with age but doesn't make you sympathize. Whereas, the lyrical content of “The Still and the Lost” is not so repressive. The song opens with the sound of someone breathing heavily before Fogal delivers emotionally-driven and lurid lyrics about a planned suicide backed with a catchy melody. It’s hard to follow this song without having every bit of daunting imagery pop into your head-

“I’m looking out of a 13th story window. I can feel the gravity pull me close to tragedy.”

The apex of the album, “Love Suicidal,” offers up more disheartening lyrics such as,

“I knelt down beside my bed and prayed that this torture would end. I’m not scared anymore.”

It has a guitar lead that complements the lyrics so well that you can feel the weight of every note. As we come to “The Well,” we get a taste of Descendents-esque melodies. Which is something that becomes more prominent in the next track, “Broken Instrument.” Finally, we reach the album’s closer, “Peninsula.” Half of this serene song is played solo before going into a jam session that ends the record nicely.

Parts is an album that wears its heart on its sleeve. These 11 tracks will keep you coming back for another listen. Occasionally, the chord progressions can seem recycled. However, you won’t skip a single track, and each time you’ll soak in some of the most well written, but despairing lyrics in pop-punk.

9.0 / 10 — Aaron H