Artist: Dropout Year
Album: Best Friends for Never
Label: None
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: June 12th, 2007

Overall: 9.0
Music: 9.5
Lyrics: 8.5
Production: 9.0

Dropout Year, obscure though this Maryland-based band may be, is certainly comparable to or perhaps more appealing in sound than a great deal of mainstream bands of the rock genre. It would seem that being unsigned would in different aspects hinder a band in producing music. However, within their EP “Seven Unreturned Phone Calls” and even more so in their new EP “Best Friends for Never”, Dropout Year fails to hold anything back. Every track off of this new EP is singularly unique, each with a very defining sound, none sounding like the next. Since “Seven Unreturned Phone Calls”, lead vocalist Adam Henderson’s voice’s range, ability, and sound overall has matured and improved. The backup vocals along with Henderson’s create a unique harmony, especially apparent in the choruses of most of the tracks. Quality of the instrumentals is also very high, and also truly defines Dropout Year’s sound. The bass of this band meshes very well with the drums, and the guitar really branches out. It would be unfair to select only a couple of the eight tracks as notable, since each seemed to me to be really enjoyable and distinctive. This band seems to understand the concept that putting out a few exceptional tracks trumps producing several mediocre songs, as not one of the eight songs off of “Best Friends for Never” can be branded “mediocre”. The only typical aspect of Dropout Year’s music is their lyrical focus on mostly love, angst, and heartbreak, and even in this they have found a new way to express old feelings, with their both clever and poetic words. Overall production of this album is obviously great. To fans of Amber Pacific, bands similar, or of rock music in general, be sure to listen to Dropout Year’s new EP “Best Friends for Never”!

Track Listing
1. From Across The Room
2. As You Wish
3. It Wasn’t Over, It Still Isn’t Over
4. A Coming Of Age Story
5. Confetti
6. Biggest Fan
7. Hold On Tight
8. Best Friends For Never