ALBUM REVIEW: 20/20 – Knuckle Puck

Ever since KNUCKLE PUCK released their seminal debut record, it’s fair to say they have never been fully able to recapture the exquisite sense of exploration on that record. Both emotionally and musically Copacetic represented the best of what pop-punk had to offer at the time, and their Shapeshifter album was a good enough follow up even if it didn’t quite cut the mustard as cleanly as before. Now, with a brand new record named 20/20, KNUCKLE PUCK are open on their campaign of positivity, and their new offering is brimming with ample good vibes. Something that this year is most definitely lacking. 

Tracks like Breathe really do make this album worth a listen right off the bat. It’s tracks like this that make 20/20 feel genuinely cathartic, as the Chicago natives change their tune from the often depressing to mostly optimistic, and it sounds really good coming from them. Considering the band cancelled entire tours due to the brutal reality of dealing with difficult mental health issues 20/20 feels like a breath of fresh air for the band, and if it’s because of the recovery of members then there is little to not like about the change in thematic direction. 

The issues arise from the album in the fact that some of these songs feel pretty lacklustre in terms of writing when compared to the rest of the bands back catalogue. For how positive Earthquake sounds, the song doesn’t stray out of the most basic song structure at all, relying on a chorus that lands well the first time round, but falls into the background by the end of the song. It hinders the memorability of a lot of the tracks present on 20/20, and it certainly feels as if this wouldn’t be the first thing you show to a brand new KNUCKLE PUCK fan. On the flip side, tracks like Tune You Out make up for these moments, as well as the wonderfully reverby intro to Green Eyes. 

Tracks like 20/20 offer glimpses into the quality that we all know KNUCKLE PUCK are capable of offering, and the ear-worm of RSVP proves that there are moments within this album that will undoubtedly stay with you for days after hearing them. Ultimately the biggest change is also the best thing that this record offers, and that’s the unbridled optimism that soaks through the fabric of each song. Despite the band’s morose previous themes, the change here is tangible, and helps lift 20/20 higher. Especially when considering the year it’s being released in, and the fact most of this record was written prior to the world plunging into the abyss it currently dwells in. In many ways, 20/20 feels like a preemptive strike by KNUCKLE PUCK to inject some brightness back into the world. 

There are few genres that are able to embody such diverse feelings of depression and utter joy than pop-punk. In many ways it’s the best thing about the genre as a whole, even when bands become too sugary sweet or on the nose with their honesty of struggles. KNUCKLE PUCK have often stood out as one of the premier acts within the genre and 20/20 does little to change their standing within the genre. Whilst not exactly elevating them higher, 20/20 solidifies their position as a consistent and reliable act and their shift towards a brighter disposition injects a real joy into their writing. Whilst the songs may not be as memorable as some of their previous writing, this could well be what the doctor ordered for fans of the genre.

Rating: 7/10

20/20 is out now via Rise Records. 

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