Denver's State Drugs made me a fan quickly with 2021's Live. Laugh. Love, so this limited edition cassette certainly had me interested for another smattering of their punk/indie/alt-rock flavored song craft.

“Don't Be Afraid” opens the listen with a very warm, driving rock spirit that certainly could have been sandwiched between Gin Blossoms and Dinosaur Jr. on the FM dial in 1995. The vocals are soft, nearly hushed, and the fluid melodies flow with a reflective tone that you just can't not be smitten with.

The setting then turns a bit more firm, where the crisp drumming, chunky bass and smooth singing of “On The Radio” is so well done, it alone is worth the price of admission. “Restless Mind” is nothing to spit at either, as more emphasis on mood enters alongside the hypnotic guitar work, acrobatic bass lines and sing-along qualities.

Near to the end, the punky and dense “The Twelve” would fit perfectly on a mix tape with Jawbreaker, The Promise Ring, Knapsack and (early) Jimmy Eat World, and “Xmas 17” exits the listen darker, nearly in post-punk territory that's dynamic yet ominous, and hazy in a way that warrants late night introspection.

Rating: A-

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