SOTD: Life on Repeat- "Struggle + Sleep"

Guilty pleasure band.

As cheesy as they are, I kinda like Life on Repeat. Underneath the sugar-coated hooks and lyrics destined to be scribbled in high school notebooks, these guys actually have their moments. This song is one of those moments. The first song and title track off the band's new album, "Struggle + Sleep" is Life on Repeat in all their poppy glory. What sets these guys apart from their bore-core peers is their seamless transitions, allowing them to go from light-as-air to pop "heavy" in the blink of an eye, without conjuring up nightmares of Victory Records artists. The rhythm section brings a strong, chugging underbelly to the Saosin-lite melodies, so that when the band needs to do "heavy", they can do it without sounding stupid. If you need proof, wait for the breakdown in this song.

Unfortunately, Life on Repeat's debut album isn't nearly as good as I was hoping it would be. My feelings on it are the same ones I had on their EP, As I Grew; great opening track, then a bit of a letdown. Struggle + Sleep has its moments of promise, however you have to wade through a lot of formula and some almost patronizing lyrical drivel to get to them. The title track, however, shows just how good Life on Repeat can be when they stop worrying about their hair and start writing music.