"If You Speak Any Faster" is June's first release on a major record label, if one considers Victory 'major. I discovered June about two years ago and listened to their demo tracks for a long time until they eventually just faded out of my mind. So I was very eager to see if they could still keep me entertained and if the band had evolved in any way at all.
June are very much a pop-punk band. They were two years ago and haven't changed much at all. It was refreshing for me to here a recognizable sound. June isn't following the trend of pop-punk adding screaming into their music. You won't hear a single syllable of screaming on "If You Speak Any Faster." Musically and vocally, June comes off as a mixture between Taking Back Sunday and Fall Out Boy. June is fairly similar to TBS in the vocal department with lots of backup vocals. FOB comes across as a similar band to fit June's music. It's not the most simple form of pop-punk, but it's far from having inticate guitar work anywhere on the album.
Lyrically, "If You Speak Any Faster" is average. Lines like "...I am the reason you're always complaining" and "Would it make things any easier if something came up and I'm not around?" are present as one would expect. The theme of the album is heartbreak/rejection. Again...what one would expect. However, for some reason I find the lyrics a lot catchier than most pop-punk outfits I've heard.
"If You Speak Any Faster" doesn't do anything to revamp their genre or make June especially unique. They play typical pop-punk. Unless you are an avid listener to that genre of music, the album isn't outstanding enough to warrant a purchase. That said, if you have a weakspot for pop-punk like I do, then you should definitely purchase this disc and enjoy.
2.5/4
Similar sounding releases
2005Scary Kids Scaring KidsThe City Sleeps in Flames
2003DoubledriveBlue in the Face
2004The Jelly Jam2
2003Moments In GraceThese Days Will Fade
2002Sanctus RealSay It Loud
2002Deep InsightJulia
