Rumored to be the next You Me At Six, Kyoto Drive is a four piece pop rock band from the UK who have just released their new album, The Approach, produced by Matt O’ Grady (You Me At Six, Deaf Havana) through I Am Mighty Records. In the past year, the band has toured across the UK with known bands such as Hit the Lights, The Starting Line, and Mae and has plans to tour with Hawthorne Heights this fall. Check out what I had to say about their new album below.
The first track I started off with was, “Receive This Little Breath,” which has this whole intro vibe to the whole album. It reminds me greatly of the interlude that All Time Low had on The Party Scene. The track gets bonus points for having the ending fade into the beginning of the next track, “Holiday,” too.
“Holiday,” gives off a summer beach anthem feel to me, and the sound can be compared to Sparks the Rescue on their 2008 album, “Eyes to the Sun.” I feel like if this track were to be released as a single, it would blow up on the pop rock/ alternative charts almost immediately.
The next track is, “So Much Alive,” which also happens to be my favorite track. This song to me just portrays itself to be an instant jam and “I’ve got this feeling” that it will be finding its way into my party and beach mixes in the upcoming weeks. The next track on the cd is, “Faking Laughs for Photographs,” which is also another favorite of mine. The song has a strong first verse to go along with the beat and it has a catchy chorus that’s easy to sing along to.
The love song-esque song on the album has to be the fifth track, “Breathe.” It’s got that pop punk feel to it matched with the words that if any boy sang this to me, I’d fall in love with.
The next track, “Chapters” has an opening that reminds me greatly of fellow UK rockers You Me At Six in their early days. As a heavy music listener, the opening beat is always something that leads me into the track and Kyoto Drive clearly knows what they’re doing.
The final track, “You Never Knew,” is the only ballad on the album but it’s not one to be looked over. It’s got a piano opening (which I know I’m a sucker for) and has the overall feel that makes the song easy to listen to at any calm moment in the day.
Overall I find The Approach to be an album to be played at the Beach or really all summer in general. Each song on the album builds together to tell a story. With, “Receive This Little Breath,” being that opening of excitement, tracks like, “Holiday,” and, “Faking Laughs for Photographs,” being that climax and you wind it all down with the closing track (You Never Knew).
Hopefully these boys make it over to the US soon so I can see them soon. All I have to say is watch out You Me At Six, it seems like we’ve got some new pop rockers in town.
