ALBUM REVIEW: Gypsy Road - Letters To A Friend, From Interstate

May 31, 2024

ALBUM REVIEW: Gypsy Road – Letters To A Friend, From Interstate

Words:

Tamara May

Released: 24 May

Independent

When you think of Midwest emo, the last thing that comes to mind is a band from Australia, right? Earlier this year, I caught US acts Hot Mulligan and Freethrow and let me tell you, I surprised myself that night. The Midwest emo/pop punk genre is something that’s only become a surging trend in recent years, but in all honesty, could be the beginning of the next wave of acts to kickstart a revolution.

For Naarm/Melbourne emo/punk outfit Gypsy Road, emo is their calling. Their debut album, Letters To A Friend, From Interstate explores relatable topics for the modern day youth, from scrolling TikTok, relationship highs and lows and getting rowdy with mates.

Opening track ‘SKY HIGH!’ sets the scene for a good time, with its upbeat guitars and frolicky energy. Almost immediately as vocalist Alex Centofanti starts singing, that quintessential Australian accent kicks into gear. His vocals offer true authenticity amongst the genre as well as exposing the band’s personality. ‘The 7 Stages of Grief’ delivers more of a melancholy tone and a taste of Gypsy Road’s emotional vulnerability. Between this and ‘What I Know’, the band take us on a sonic journey of dynamic drumbeats and riffs thrashing together very soundly. The light-heartedness of the latter though, will relate to Aussie music fans well, being we’re exposed to the light up of a bong midway through.

Title track ‘Letters to a Friend, From Interstate’ begins with some positive infectious energy and I’m kind of getting a similar vibe from Perth alt/rockers Sly Withers here. Alex’s apologetic tone makes this track an album highlight. It’s the emotional belter that’ll see Gypsy Road connect with their audience at live shows.

Similarly to the album’s opener, ‘James Boags Draught’ sparks more light-heartedness and fun into this record. It offers that balance of lows and highs, something a punk record needs. Another element of a good, fun punk record is the moshpit inducer and this is what ‘Honestly, This Gave Me PTSD’ was made for. The mix of angst and raw emotions being trajected on this track is depicted through fast-paced drums driving the band’s pure intentions.

‘L’antipasto è buono, la pizza ancora di più!’ is an acoustic jam that will instantly make you feel warm inside and offers some hope for a glistening future. Final track ‘Catch22’ closes this album out with a soaring singalong chorus that will go down a treat live, ala encore style.

Overall, this whole record offers plenty of enthusiasm for the pop punk listener. Gypsy Road deliver an album about “adult life” in a nutshell, taking us on quite the emotional journey. Between its warm guitar tones to thrashing riff energy, Letters To A Friend, From Interstate presents a rollercoaster of highs and lows, idyllically contrasting the journey that one takes in life. It’s a strong debut for this young Aussie band from Melbourne and I look forward to seeing how they can develop their style further from here.

Rating: 8/10

Review By Tamara May

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