In the middle of last year, Decade went silent for 6 months. After playing a UK tour covering all the major cities, nothing was heard from them on social media until November, when they announced the release of their second full-length album ‘Pleasantries’. This album offers up a whole different side to the five-piece and allows them to grow even further into being the band they wish to be.
I’ve always enjoyed Decade – they are unashamedly pop-punk, and they know how to write a hook, a vocal and a catchy song – and this record is well-and-truly full to the brim with them.
Right from the get go, you know what you’re getting yourself in for. Human Being opens the album with a gentle lull but sways into a song which is fast, poppy, and punky all at the same time. It sets the tone for a record, as a happy-go-lucky track with a group sing-a-long near the end, but on a closer inspection of the lyrics, it tells the story of things which affect everyone – unrequited love, being nice to people you hate and so on. That’s the point of this record – it’s all about the situations and feelings which everyone can relate to – and gives meaning to the name ‘Pleasantries’.
Daisy May and Turn Off Your TV continue the premise of relatable, portraying those parts of life which everyone has – an obsession to a certain someone (either love or hatred), and an obsession with technology – TV, phones, social media and the like. Both offer it in a cheery manner which tricks you into thinking the band are singing about something you secretly like.
The rest of the album is filled with the high-paced pop punk which Decade have come to be known for – including on tracks such as Anaemia, Brand New Again, Peach Milk, interwined with a selection of slower numbers – such as Wasted (with an epic chorus), Sunbeam (an acoustic-sounding track), Can’t Figure You Out and Geist. Each song on the album is written from the personal perspective of lead singer Alex Sears, and therefore enables the whole set to become more personal and humane.
Capsules is a strong finisher for the album. It begins slow, and then ends in a huge sound, truly showing off the range of Sears’ voice, and the rest of the band’s potential.
Between 2013’s ‘Good Luck’ and modern days’ ‘Pleasantries’, you can hear that Decade have refined their sound – not just in their instruments and vocals, but also in their production, and range of songs. They have matured in subject matter and ability, and this album will be something which Decade fans will enjoy, and new fans can get their teeth into.
This album lives up to its name – it is nice, friendly and pleasant. You can enjoy this record wherever you want, and you’ll always come away smiling.