Throughout
Chris McCaughan
's work with his acoustic side project
Sundowner
, what's been amazing hasn't been how different it is from
the Lawrence Arms
, but how similar. On
Neon Fiction
, his third album with the band, it's clear that underneath the surface of the band's plaintive acoustic offerings is the spine of a punk band. These aren't just punk songs slowed down to a tired pace, though. Rather,
showcases
McCaughan
's knack for redirecting the energy of his songwriting into something more reserved and focused, providing listeners with a more mature take on punk rock that doesn't devolve into adult contemporary. Its languid, country-inflected sound has a wistful, reflective vibe about it, making this an album that's perfect for moments of lonely contemplation away from the brash drive of
; a kind of musical getaway, if you will. Another benefit of
's quieter sound is its ability to get in a little closer to the listener, allowing
's confessional songwriting to feel more like a personal conversation than an angry sentiment shouted at no one in particular, as in "Poet of Trash," where
confesses "I was the hack of the class/Armed with a broken pen in my hand/I was a poet of trash/Recycled lines like bottles and cans." Such personal statements feel more meaningful in this context, as if they were secrets revealed in the afterglow of a late night out with an old friend, and they provide fans of the band with a perspective of
not only as a musician, but as a living, breathing person. ~ Gregory Heaney