It’s hard to believe, but Edmonton pop-punkers Real Sickies have been keeping Canadian pop-punk alive and kicking for over a decade now.  Their infectious brand of early Green Day meets Teenage Bottlerocket has always been a welcome throwback, and their latest full length, Under A Plastic Bag is no different.  Featuring simple melodies bringing to mind the early years of Rad Girlfriend Records and Red Scare Industries, there’s a little something for everyone across this thirty-seven minute romp.

Aiming for atmosphere, the album kicks off with the sound of a shovel digging and tossing scoops presumably onto the bodybag housing the band’s skeleton mascot as per the album cover.  It’s probably not worth over analyzing, but laying the band’s mascot to rest six feet under may be a commentary on the band’s seemingly permanent “underground” status. Despite being one of the country’s top pop punk acts – the press release even quotes Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, crowning them his favourite Canadian pop punk band – they’ve never received the recognition they deserve. Under A Plastic Bag is the strongest case yet, showcasing a wide range of pop-punk influences across a plethora of tempos and styles.

As can be expected, the album is dominated by that trademark Real Sickies slightly north of midtempo pop-punk jangle.  Tracks like the overthinker’s anthem, “Over Thought About It” and apathy trap exposition, “Destinations,” cycle through verse after verse of steady toe-tapping chords and singable choruses. Peeling away the music and exploring each lyrical layer compounds even greater fulfillment, with the latter track living up to life’s expectations, reminding us that “what they give to you, they take it back times two.”  Those with slower tempos, like “Never Going Back” and “Taste the Concrete,” capitalize on jangly ear-worms with punchy, singable melodies and choruses. The latter further highlights the band’s knack for juxtaposing grim subject matter with feel-good vibes. “Someone’s gonna get their lights turned out tonight” sings the band in their nasally tone, eventually peeling back the fragile layers of a bad-boy persona, revealing that “even padded egos are easy to bruise, some are just better at hiding what they lose.”  

Like a meal that spans all the major food groups, Under A Plastic Bag offers more than empty calories.  Real Sickies plate an album that will leave listeners feeling satiated and fulfilled with no need for sugary extras – which is ironic given that this is bubblegum pop-punk at its core. If you’re one of the many people who have continued to sit on the sidelines while these prolific Edmonton pop-punks release gem after gem, then shame on you!  What are you waiting for? There’s never been a better time to get acquainted with one of Canada’s best kept pop-punk secrets and get Under a Plastic Bag.

Under A Plastic Bag is out now via Stomp Records.

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