Anyone who says that all pop-punk sounds the same needs to look no further than the Glamour Kills Tour Split to disavow that notion. The split features each of the six bands on the this year’s Glamour Kills Tour covering a song by one of their tour-mates, and each cover sounds unique and original, a testament to the diversity within pop-punk. From The Story So Far’s fast-paced screams in “Wrightsville Beach” (A Loss For Words) to The Wonder Years’ upbeat rendition of Into It. Over It.’s “Anchor,” the bands all put their own spin on the songs.
The Wonder Years’s performance of “Anchor” is a highlight of the album. The track hones in on Dan “Soupy” Campbell’s great voice, coupled with a smooth electric guitar. While still true to their original sound, The Wonder Years have clearly grown as a band since Suburbia. Meanwhile, Into It. Over It.’s rendition of “Don’t Let Me Cave In” by The Wonder Years is another highlight. One man band Evan Thomas Weiss stays in his comfort zone, with a fuzzy guitar and slow-paced singing.
The most interesting swap of songs is between A Loss For Words and The Story So Far. Given The Story So Far’s harder sound, the pairing might seem questionable at first glance. That doubt is banished in a little over five minutes — both bands own their covers. The Story So Far plays “Wrightsville Beach” as if it were never an upbeat pop-punk song in the first place; thanks to some incessant drum pounding and talented vocals, the track takes on an entirely different feel. Similarly, A Loss For Words transforms “Quicksand” into a smooth, catchy anthem that they could have written themselves.
