How do you describe a band that sounds nothing like everything else out there? This is the question I have found myself facing all too lately it seems. But, like a good little trooper, I'm going to give this a go.
This band has keyboards, first off, but not keyboards in the sense of an emo band or anything like that, it's the synth kind of keyboards like you would hear in a song by the Hippos. So, take that part of the Hippos out- the moog/synth/keys- and add in the pop punk raunchy qualities of a nice blend of MxPx and Nerf Herder, and you're about where the Beans are. It's quite complicated, I know, and possibly even hard to imagine hearing in your mind, but when you hear them- and you will- you'll go "Oh yeah, there it is..."
Most of the songs are fairly short- three to four minutes at most- and they pretty much have an upbeat, fun kind of tempo to them. Very much fun party kind of music that does remind me a lot of the Hippos, Less Than Jake or RxBandits (even though they don't sound so much like the two prior bands). And actually, "If Only" sounds a bit like the Mr. T Experience.
I want to talk about the words, but let me just say that this CD has an awesome title. If New Found Glory called their second CD "Young Love Gone Terribly Wrong" they would have gotten a hell of a lot more credit in my book. But, the Beans did call this CD that, and for that name alone I commend them.
Most of these songs are about girls. I tend to find the lyrics have a lot to say about certain days- as far as yesterday specifically- and summer too. Some how throwing in something about summer and something about yesterday seems to be the running theme of the CD.
As soon as you put this CD on, you'll hear "One More Summer" and be hooked. After that, songs like "If Only", "Dreams Don't Come True", "Pop Song" and "It's Over" tend to stand out. But, if this CD had the chance to shine on pop punk radio some where, I'd definitely say that "I'm So Sorry" would be an instant hit. It's some what catchy, has a beautifully thought out chorus, and just basically when I heard it I thought it was a cover it was so good.
If you like the Hippos, you will probably like this. If you enjoy stuff like the Rentals (I'm not too big into that genre), you will also probably enjoy this. But, moreso, despite the keyboard, I think if you like pop punk you will like this. Come on, you listen to the Juliana Theory still, don't you?