Album Review: Bad Breaks by The ProblemAddictsfl

Bad Breaks is the title of the debut album by pop punk band The ProblemAddictsfl. The four piece formed in 2015 and have been working hard playing shows around America. In 2018 they signed to A Jam Records to release the EP Derailed and then released Bad Breaks in March of 2019. We're late to the party but very keen to catch up.

Bad Breaks begins with the song Cliffnotes On A Broken Heart, starting out at a high tempo that you might expect from a pop punk band. It's always important to get an album off to an exciting start and The ProblemAddictsfl definitely do that. The opening verse actually slows things down slightly before we get to a high octane chorus that is hook heavy. Following in that pop punk tradition, this is a break up song, in particularly talking about dealing with the frustration of being dumped and struggling to move on. Up next is Overdue. On my first listen of the song, my ears quickly pricked for the use of two vocalists trading lines. This is a technique bands use that I absolutely love. More bands should do this, please. Overdue is about the breakdown of a relationship and realising you've just been staying together for the sake of it. The song is an instant ear worm, you'll be singing along by your second listen of the song. The breakdown of the song is a big highlight. Off The Couch has more of a serious and moodier tone than the previous two songs. It's about being overwhelmed with life and questioning what's true and what is a lie. It's a powerful and emotional song that does a great job in making you think about things.

Hospitals & Heartbreaks is one of the shorter tracks on Bad Breaks and it brings the tempo back up. Musically the song is played at a crazy speed and at times it sounds as if the vocals are struggling to keep up. This gives the song a great deal of urgency that I really enjoyed. Punk music should be urgent. The subject of mental health is broached as the band sing about bad times happening but being thankful for the friends that stick by them. Paystubs & Papercuts was a stand out on my first listen of the album. I really enjoyed the bouncy melody that creates a brilliant background to the song and keeps it cheery and upbeat. The bass lines in particular are a real treat. The track is about spending a lot of time in and creating a lot of memories in your car. I really related to the verse talking about having friends together in your car – I personally have so many great road trip memories that I'll cherish forever. The sixth track on Bad Breaks is titled Temper Tantrums. Temper Tantrums sees The ProblemAddictsfl revert to a more serious sound. I like the switches as it stops Bad Breaks from becoming stale and shows that the band have a variety of skills in their songwriting. The song is about dealing with the thoughts you've bottled up regarding someone’s actions and eventually letting them all out. It might be some tough love or it might be just calling someone out for their bad behaviour.

Option Three brings the pace back up for a song about feeling as if whatever you try and do it never goes to plan and deciding that you might be better off alone. The ProblemAddictsfl have a real knack for writing infectious and bouncy pop punk melodies and they've done it again here. The song could be cathartic for a lot of people who might feel misanthropic or apathetic but want to improve themselves. They'll know they're not alone. Track eight is the super fun Sunday Morning Porcelain Praying. This is a fast paced song about having a big night out and suffering the next morning. I don't drink and have never had a hangover so can't really relate but it does sound like a lot of nights out my friends have had. There's a rambunctiousness about the song that I found really endearing and had me wanting to get involved in singing along as passionately as I can – even though I can't relate. The penultimate song is a cover of the Ben E. King classic Stand By Me, also covered by punk veterans Pennywise and The Ducky Boys. This is one of the poppiest songs on Bad Breaks and, to be honest, it took me a little while to get into it. As the song progresses and it gets more intense, I began to get into it a bit more. The original is a classic so it's always interesting to hear a different take on it. Bad Breaks finishes with the forty-five second long All Up To Me. Finishing an album with such a short song was an interesting decision and it kind of left me wanting more rather than the album feeling finished. It is a positive pick me up song however, about taking responsibility for yourself and your life and not waiting for things to be handed to you. That's a great message to finish the album with.

Bad Breaks is a great introduction to The ProblemAddictsfl if you're unaware of them. It's pop punk that doesn't break the typical pop punk formula too much but it's a lot of fun and for the most part very relatable and I'm sure a lot of people will really enjoy this album. I look forward to seeing how the band progresses and seeing them grow. There's so much potential in this band.

Stream and download Bad Breaks here: https://theproblemaddictsfl.bandcamp.com/album/bad-breaks

Like The ProblemAddictsfl here: https://www.facebook.com/TheProblemAddictsFL/

This review was written by Colin Clark.