Hindsight’s 20/20 by Chasing Claymores
Chasing Claymores—an alternative group from San Diego—is the perfect pop-punk blend of impassioned lyrics accompanied by dark melodies. Their second body of work, Hindsight’s 20/20, demonstrates the successful promise of a strong musicianship with Joey Shelly (Vocals/Guitar), Charlie Santilena (Bass Guitar), Scott Baird, (Lead Guitar) and Keoki Lanza (Drums).
What Chasing Claymores has developed with their first EP is a theme of anger and anguish, feeling bittersweet with ideas of adolescence and holding true to one’s beliefs and opinions.
A song that distinctly grabbed my attention is the first track found on Hindsight’s 20/20, “Well Played, Mauer.” The song echoes the 1970 Cat Stevens song “Father and Son” in the sense of the restrictions one generation holds on the other, only with a punk-pop flavor.
The lyrics are sung by Shelly in hopes of overcoming the common struggle of being young and trying to dismiss an older generation’s advice, “Keep your chin up, kid/The worst is almost over/I’ve heard these lines so many times/You’ll understand when you get older.” Chasing Claymores takes their listeners on a journey of growing up and produces a classic youth anthem for today’s generation.
“I’m Taking It Back. I’m Taking Them All Back” is a song about living up to one’s standards and expectations with the result of self-destruction. It generates a rushing rhythm on percussion from Lanza and heavy mood with the consistent, strong strumming of electric guitars from Shelly and Baird.
Themes of adolescence and youthful dilemmas make Chasing Claymores’ Hindsight’s 20/20 catchy in the best way possible. The EP is filled with insightful lyrics, holding true to confrontation of failed relationships and life decisions that come with growing up.
This is especially true on “Youth is Wasted on the Youth” when the band sings, “The best years aren’t behind us/We won’t quit, we’re here to stay/Don’t let it fade away/The spirit of the youth we have/Let’s take it to our grave, to our grave.”
Frustration and pain may cause self-hurt, but it produces incredible music for a long shelf life. Chasing Claymores is a band that creates successful arrangements of stories revolving around one common theme: childhood. Their listeners—including myself—are excited to hear more beautifully pop-punk anthems with an optimistic light from this talented unit of performers.
Rate: 4.5/5
By Kayla Yandoli