Is it too soon to crown my favorite band of the year? Probably, but I’m going to do it anyway! The Australian Neck Deep, Tragic Me has probably been my go to band since I gave their latest release Young Hearts a brief listen, which translates to about fifty-plus plays give or take a few. I will point out that Young Hearts is not a 2019 release, but instead was released back in November 2018, but I still felt the need to put in my two cents.
So, is Young Hearts going to put Tragic Me on the map to stand on their own two feet? Or will this Australian pop punk band fade peacefully into the night like so many sadly do? Let’s find out.
The Review
Fire Burning:
If you’re into catchy, timeless, and groovy pop punk songs then look no further than “Fire Burning.” One of my favorite tracks off Young Hearts I enjoy keeping on repeat, “Fire Burning” uses simple and straight to the point styles of instrumentation that is easy on the ears but loses none of its core energy that will keep you coming back for more.
Lyrically, “Fire Burning” touches on relatable subjects and keeps the track very intimate. These notions of intimacy and real world relations are why listeners will continuously comeback to “Fire Burning” specifically as it keeps with genre traditions while touching nicely on emotional connections to convey a clear cut message.
Steadfast:
“Steadfast” is what helped Tragic Me skyrocket up the ranks to my favorite band of 2019. Easily the track I’ve listened to the most, it’s fast, flows perfectly between each note, and holds some of the best sing along qualities showcased on this EP. Seriously, there hasn’t been a day that goes by since I’ve listened to “Steadfast” that I’m not singing its very contagious chorus at obnoxious levels in the car.
Continuing the trend picked up by “Fire Burning,” “Steadfast” features simplistic sounding instrumentals that also have their hand in a bucket of fun. It’s these core instrumentals that help the song develop quite the ear worm. I’m looking forward to hearing more songs like “Steadfast” in the future, as I see Tragic Me going off on new heights very soon.
Way Back Then:
One of the more “laid back” tracks you’ll find on Young Hearts, which is obviously not exactly a bad thing. In fact, I can see “Way Back Then” being a direct favorite for quite a few. While “Steadfast” and “Fire Burning” hold themselves to more traditional pop punk standards, “Way Back Then” breaks away from that mold and learns to stand on its own two feet as Tragic Me evolves the genre to cater to work towards their own artful goals.
“Way Back Then” brings things back to intimacy and emotional connection, which is most likely why so many seem to compare Tragic Me to the likes of Neck Deep, as both bands prefer the use of personal life lessons to convey a unique message, rather than just simply creating something bubble gum style for radio play. If you only listen to one song off Young Hearts, I would ignore my favorites and jump right into this one if you want an emotionally unique connection.
Poser:
“Jump in the deep end with me” is the perfect way to describe “Poser.” This song is so damn catchy you might just get tired of how much you’ll be singing along with each and every emotionally charged lyric. A fun-filled track wrapped in a complex blanket is what you’ll get with “Poser,” as Tragic Me tosses a wrench in the usual pop punk style as they create their own take on pop rock in a stream of glorious fiery instrumental perfection.
Instrumentally, “Poser” is the best of the bunch, as these Australian music makers take things up a notch and showcase their individual talents. There’s no doubting it, Tragic Me are far from posers and “Poser” proves just why you should give them a listen.
Young Hearts:
“Young Hearts” is unique in that I don’t hate it, but I also don’t think it’s an utter trash fire. Getting straight to the point, “Young Hearts” is kind of in the middle, I love the track’s chorus and how easily tension is built up quickly and effectively. But, coming off the energy that “Poser” lets loose, it left me wanting something more.
It’s not a bad song, as I actually quite enjoy the track’s second half, as tensions rise even more and we’re given one of the best vocal performances on the EP. It’s just more of a building track for myself than an instant favorite.
You:
This is one of those special songs, a song that showcases the perfect amount of emotional connectivity between band and listener. “You” is truly an emotional affair, a song I see listeners going back to when they want a somber experience that they can personally relate to. “This part of me that I left here with you” will certainly change meanings per listener, but it’s a feeling everyone can trace back to.
“You” is a perfect closer: it’s not too energetic, it’s acoustic, and it’s humble in substance as to grasp attention across time. There’s not much more to say other than I hope Tragic Me has more of these beauties in their long terms plans.
That Ending Though
Tragic Me is far from just an Australian take on Neck Deep and Young Hearts is an amazing start to a career I can see lasting quite a while, as long as they never compromise their use of personal experiences to create amazing songs for us to consume. I’m looking forward to what might come next from these guys.
If you’d like to check out Tragic Me’s debut EP Young Hearts for yourself, you can currently head over to any of the major streaming services and give it a whirl.
