The Other Left - Entertain Yourself
Hungary’s pop-punk band The Other Left recently dropped their debut album, called Entertain Yourself, 11-tracks covering topics such as teenage agony, self-criticism, politics, love, sorrow, and plain old fun.
The Other Left | Photo: Aron Meszaros
Formed in 2016, The Other Left states, “Undoubtedly our music was inspired by Californian punk/pop-rock music.” The band is made up of Gergely Farkas (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Robert Toth (bass), Sandor Roland Krajcsi (drums), and Balint Molnar (vocals, lead guitar).
Highlights on the album include the title track, featuring spangled buff guitars and a driving rhythm. The melody merges pop-punk and alt-rock flavors embellished with almost Southern rock accents from the lead guitar. Farkas’ voice delivers just the right amount of punk nonchalance, slacker attitude, and impertinent sarcasm. Molnar’s tight, incandescent licks on the solo really wail.
Clever wordplay on the chorus provides sneering commentary.
“Entertain yourself … you better get out of way! / Did you find your little combo or is there someone to blame? / Do you wanna set a fire, when there’s nothing but rain? / ‘Not every Sunday can be Easter’ – as Billie with ’ie’ said.”
The Other Left certainly does pop-punk right, delivering heavy energy, infectious propulsive rhythms, and cool, snarky vocals.
“Make It Last Forever” opens on dirty guitar chords flowing into a chunking punk melody atop a compact forceful rhythm. Drawling, skater-punk vocals, along with radiant Kink-like background harmonies imbue the lyrics with supercharged tasty tones.
“No Time For Love” starts off with light guitars backed by skintight rumbling drum beats. The melody slowly builds to surging energy, full of muscular guitars and halcyon breakdowns atop the kick-drum and austerely glistening guitars. A searing guitar solo injects beau coup heat.
One of my favorites is “What’s In The Vein?,” opening on delicious sparkling guitars and a Spartan bass line flowing into a swelling melody that attains galvanizing momentum and thick waves of murky guitar colors. This tune is vaguely reminiscent of Green Day, waxing and waning between hefty resonance and more peaceful interludes.
The Other Left certainly does pop-punk right, delivering heavy energy, infectious propulsive rhythms, and cool, snarky vocals.
