Stay What You Are

Review

Emo that delivers acerbic energy and surging melody in equal doses.
More angry than self-pitying, Saves the Day deliver acerbic energy and surging melody in equal doses on their third studio offering, 2001's Stay What You Are. But while there's plenty of blister and bounce reminiscent of Bad Religion and even the Ramones, there's also lots of adolescent angst: "I don't think I have got the stomach to stomach calling you today" ("See You"). And no matter how loud these New Jersey rockers get, their riffs are clever, crisp and visceral. "At Your Funeral" follows sustained, fuzzy chords with a jaunty pogo rhythm, and "Jukebox Breakdown" combines a slithery metallic riff with winsome vocal harmonies. They may not save punk rock, but Saves the Day have got enough diversity to spread their bristly emotions far beyond the emo kingdom.