The Story So Far
Inspired by my dear former metalhead babysitter, I discovered The Story So Far as an energetic 10 year-old who loved the punk soundtrack of our morning drive to school. It wasn’t, of course, until I was a pre-teen with my own phone that I began streaming the band compulsively, but the The Story So Far seed was planted early. After devouring their records one by one across years of my life, they have become entrenched into some of the deepest parts of me. A divinely talented but not overcomplicated pop-punk band with an edge for divising criminally catchy hooks, The Story So Far really does offer something for everyone.
Under Soil and Dirt (2011)
An absolutely ridiculous debut album. A top-to-bottom piece of work that is as catchy as it is coherent, Under Soil and Dirt formed me. Every single song contributes tremendously to this perfectly-sized album that is bursting with energy without being a stream of unfiltered sound. At just 19 years old, it is immense that Parker Cannon was able to lead the band into such a well-produced first project. The Quicksand to Mt. Diablo run is ledgendary.
What You Don’t See (2013)
Their angsiest yet tightest record yet, some of the band’s biggest hits are on What You Don’t See. To date, Things I Can’t Change and Empty Space remain among the band’s biggest songs, though there really isn’t a miss in the entire project. It is rare for a pop-punk band to evoke such emotion as TSSF does in What You Don’t See. They do so by making sure their memorable melodies are never drowned out by the overall sound of the record: punchy, yet singable.
The Story So Far (2015)
By far the most powerful TSSF album, if you like a lot of heavy bass and drums, the self-titled record is for you. It features some of the band’s most charged lyrics set to their most screamable melodies (it was my favorite driving album for a reason). Heavy Gloom is one of the best songs I know, though there really isn’t a skip on the record. The self-titled record promises to leave at least one bridge stuck in your head.
Proper Dose (2018)
Proper Does the TSSF record of choice for many, many fans. I think the genre/tempo changes felt refreshing for people and made the record feel more dynamic than their other work. While this is true, it made the album lack power at times. While this is not a bad thing, it means it is the record I return to the least. I don’t listen to TSSF for their softness. Still, I absolutely return for the songwriting in this album. It’s beauty softens me.
I Want To Disappear (2024)
The Story So Far returned in 2024 after a roughly 6-year hiatus with their album I Want To Disappear. Coming in at roughly 30 minutes, comprised of 10 tracks, the album offered a new sound from the band while still maintaining their same old spunky spirit. For old fans, the new sound can be a little jarring (it was for me), and initially, the album might even feel like a ‘miss’. But after a few listens, I found their new sound to be contagious.
What helped me fall in love with the record was focusing on the lyrics. Parker Canon (vocals) put a new piece of himself on display: by talking about the loss of his father to cancer. Canon discusses the torment of his death, and how the loss of the man he looks up to forces him to confront his own manhood. It is this theme that marks a massive shift away from the (excellent) self-loathing angsty girlfriend-tormented lyricsm that characterized their earlier albums. The album packs a punch, with both upbeat and mellow tracks, almost all of which pertain to the subject of Canon’s father. Still, while the album certainly gets better with every listen, it does not necessarily stand out as their best record. I believe the nostalgia of Under Soil and Dirt; the angst of What You Don’t See; the moodiness of The Story So Far; and the poetry of Proper Does will always have a special place in my heart.
