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Set Your Goals with horns. That’s basically what We Are the Union’s 2007 album Who We Are sounds like. And while it may seem belittling to pigeonhole them right off the bat, We Are the Union would probably be the first to admit it. I mean, they love to define themselves; it’s right in the band and album names. The liner notes straight up list SYG as an influence, along with Lifetime, Rehasher and Big D and the Kids Table. Union even cribs a D line -- "Your allowance exceeds my rent" – for a song title. Regardless of the obvious reference points, though, Who We Are is a solid record, with an emphasis on putting melody in melodic skacore.

Of course, the ska elements are pretty basic in the mix. By which I mean, there's horns and a few traces of Jamaican rhythm here and there, such as on "These Colors Flee the Scene." We Are the Union really push for a more straight pop-punk/hardcore sound, an always tried ‘n’ true format. And they do it well. The choruses soar, the drums are punchy, the guitars are crunchy (but too crunchy) and the vocals are strong. Vocalist Reed Michael sometimes come off as a Patrick Stump stand-in, which might turn off those of us who deeply, deeply loathe Fall Out Boy. At the same time, though, both dudes have big ol’ pipes, so I can’t fault either of them for being able to belt it out.

Point is, Who We Are is fun. Catchy and quick, with a dash of posi and political connotations, these 11 songs will embed themselves deeper into your brainy bits than a Ceti eel from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. While the sound (and the overeager lyrics) may grow stale after too many spins, there’s no denying the punch of “MTV Is Over, If You Want It” or album ender “Ourcore,” which is essentially We Are the Union’s version of SYG’s “Echoes.” With summer’s official start a week away, Who We Are will make for an excellent seasonal spin.



People who liked this also liked:
Descendents - Milo Goes To CollegeNOFX - The DeclineThe Lawrence Arms - Oh! Calcutta!Set Your Goals - Mutiny!Refused - The Shape of Punk to ComeGaslight Anthem - Sink or SwimOperation Ivy - Operation IvyThe Clash - London CallingThe Fad - Kill Punk Rock StarsStreetlight Manifesto - Everything Goes Numb



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    Posted by highanxiety on 2009-04-27 08:37:16
    My Score:

    Musically it's impressive yet nothing new. Lyrically it's pretty awful.

    Posted by thesidekicksuicide on 2008-07-01 22:53:55
    My Score:

    one of my favorite albums of last year

    I hope I can catch them on tour

    Posted by jmargs13 on 2008-06-26 13:08:55

    WATU Tour Video May 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3qyElEbk74

    Posted by thatsyouth on 2008-06-17 12:28:01
    My Score:

    ok a 9 rating may have been a bit too much. 7 is better.

    Posted by thatsyouth on 2008-06-17 12:27:26
    My Score:

    this is realllllly good

    Posted by mrdogg45 on 2008-06-17 09:47:10

    I'm not going to listen to this record, I'm just happy to get a Wrath of Khan reference every now and again.

    Posted by scarysmurf on 2008-06-14 16:48:28
    My Score:

    i just downloaded their whole album from their purevolume.

    all i can say is i am extremly impressed.

    Posted by MeeSTa3k on 2008-06-14 15:50:22

    As bummed as I am that this band will probably never open for me again, I'm stoked to see them find their sound and make their mark. They're just being who they are.

    Posted by wearestillalive on 2008-06-14 12:40:29

    basically getting this based on the first line of the review.

    Posted by pinkpenguin on 2008-06-14 09:11:26

    after reading "syg with horns" i had to check em out and this album is awesome... the whole album is posted for free on their purevolume page if you wanna listen...

    Posted by shark-e on 2008-06-14 03:13:06
    My Score:

    This album seems to hit me in all the right places. Without me even noticing, five of their songs managed to creep into my 25 most played songs on iTunes. It's nothing I can pinpoint. There's nothing radically different about them, but what they do, they do very very well. It's a similar reaction I had to the Loved Ones' first full length... familiar structure, enticing delivery.

    Posted by onegirlarmy on 2008-06-14 01:04:00
    My Score:

    Good record, very catchy! I dig this band.

    Posted by superskabro on 2008-06-14 00:26:50

    P.S. Reed is NOTHING like Patrick Stump. What the fuck. Reed is somewhere in between Chris and Roger from LTJ. A perfect mix of the two, one would say. Easily my most listened-to album of the year, next to "Learn The Hard Way" b y the Copyrights and "Emotionalism" by The Avett Bros.

    Posted by superskabro on 2008-06-14 00:24:12
    My Score:

    I give it a 9, only so that they have room to grow.
    -Bobby Hill

    Posted by MrStylson on 2008-06-13 23:04:05
    My Score:

    Really good pop/punk record.

    Posted by no_face on 2008-06-13 19:18:05

    best album that came out in 2007

    Posted by skapunk810 on 2008-06-13 18:39:29
    My Score:

    amazing album, amazing live show.....soooooooooooooooooooo good

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