First To Leave

Forging A Future

[3/5]

Lifetime’s and Saves The Day’s poppiest tracks have clearly had an impact on Bay Area quintet First To Leave. Recorded by prolific producer J. Robbins (Against Me!, None More Black), Forging A Future is almost technically flawless. But though the album is polished and flows well, First To Leave certainly aren’t breaking any new ground. Teenage love and the trials and tribulations of growing up are the main lyrical themes; they make a good match for any teen dealing with their first heartache, longing for a soundtrack to work through it. If pop-punk/melodic hardcore is your thing and you can 100 percent relate to vocalist Matt Foster’s lyrics (sample line: “We’re both 20 now, waiting for our lives to fall in place”), then this is a good album for you. If not, there’s nothing fresh enough that would warrant much interest. (WEDNESDAY, wednesdayrecords.com) Kira Wisniewski