Over 2 Decades Into His Career, Jeff Rosenstock Puts Out Arguably His Best Record With 'NO DREAM'

This is the most grand musical explosion we’ve gotten from legendary Bomb the Music Industry! frontman Jeff Rosenstock since 2016’s WORRY. - and I can understand the argument that this one might even be his best. While I definitely have not been a lifelong fan of the guy as I only discovered him in late 2017, Jeff’s music still holds a near and dear place in my heart. That’s because his last record POST- was actually the first music review I ever wrote. It was essentially my New Year’s Resolution to start trying to jot down notes on every new album I could as a way to broaden my musical horizons. Given Jeff’s last release dropped on that same New Year’s day, there was no better place to start. That record has a full two years to marinate with me now, and while I definitely do enjoy it I don’t find it to be among the most notable of albums I’ve ever heard. It’s a fantastic listen with a lot to offer, as songs like TV Stars and All This Useless Energy occasionally pop up in my rotation to this day. Going into this new one though, I was really hoping to hear exactly what he gave us - more energy. This one is packed to the brim with twice as much energy and bite as the last record, proving that Jeff clearly still has a ton left in him since he got his start in the Ska Punk world over two decades ago.

Right out the gate, this record opens with proof that Jeff is much more amped up and ready to go for the throat on here than he was on POST-. The first two tracks are a ferocious punch in the gut with a killer Punk Rock snarl about them that never fails to get me pumped up. Tracks like these kept me energized and foaming at the mouth while I had this thing on repeat for 6 hours at the skatepark the other day. It’s got a slightly classic Punk sound tinting all the new ideas Jeff brings to his sound that makes this album feel like both an evolution and a return to the roots all at once. In terms of the levels of energy that Jeff is bringing to the table on this record, this one is a massive step up from the last. He’s clearly putting absolutely everything he can into all of these songs, and the payoff is massively substantial. The explosive flurry of guitars, quotable lyricism and memorable melodies pouring out of Jeff’s vocal performance, and a rhythm section driving each song at a million miles per hour all mesh together so perfectly. This is everything you could really hope for out of a Jeff Rosenstock record, as somehow he’s still putting out some of his best material this late into his career.

The fast-paced Skate Punk influence on here is greatly appreciated, but he’s also greatly upped the ante in terms of the Alternative Rock and Power Pop stylings he brought to the table last time. While POST- is a perfectly enjoyable record, it didn’t do quite as well at making his sound a bit more accessible since the songwriting wasn’t as biting and cutting edge as his louder stuff. With NO DREAM though, Jeff has completely mastered that Alternative rooted style he went for last time with some of the catchiest and most replayable tracks he’s ever written to date. Songs like ***BNB and The Beauty of Breathing, as well as plenty of others, have a Pinkerton era Weezer vibe that is done to the greatest possible extent. They’ve got tons of emotional weight packed into a package that perfects both smooth Pop songwriting and raw, grungy performances the same way Weezer did in 1996. This is the kind of album that perfectly matches up with all the discord and anger writhing around in the hard to believe current events we’re all living through right now. This album is the exact kind of sound, to the utmost extent of quality, that the world needs right now. It’s punchy Punk music that’s just sweet enough to be as comforting as it is aggressive.

I think the thing that sets this record apart from anything else I’ve heard from Jeff is the incredibly memorable instrumental performances throughout the entire thing. I love plenty of the instrumentals on all of his previous records, but the star of the Jeff Rosenstock show has always been Jeff Rosenstock. This time around though, the guitars are just as prominent and excellent as Jeff. There are so many awesome little riffs and solos that blend situationally perfect tone with hard-hitting simplicity on songs like the PUP-esque Scram! and that excellent solo on Leave It In The Sun. The chord choice on every single song throughout the entire record is an especially noticeable step above any other record I can think of that Jeff has ever been apart of in my opinion. The rich, dense and layered chords we hear on songs like Nikes (Alt) and f a m e really just make the entire album for me, as that incredible chord selection is what nails that bittersweet emotional punch that compliments the raw energy of the record so well. Arguably the best example of all of this is my personal favorite song on the album State Line, which is a great example of everything great with the guitar work here. That main riff is to die for, as it’s such a simple little rhythm that manages to pack so much impact within it once it starts descending. The chord choice on the chorus perfectly accentuates the pain and strain in Jeff’s voice, and the sublime breakdown and guitar solo at 2 and a half minutes fully seals the deal. If there’s any song I’d point to as proof that this is arguably the best album Jeff’s ever been part of in terms of instrumentals, it’s this one. It’s a perfect, 10/10 song.

This is lightning in a bottle, undoubtedly. It’s a phenomenal return that has completely convinced me that the legendary Bomb the Music Industry singer isn’t even past his prime yet. With over two decades in the music industry (pun sort of intended) under his belt, that’s not something that hardly any artist can safely say whatsoever. I would have been happy with how fruitful Jeff’s solo career has been thus far regardless of whether or not this album was amazing, as something like WORRY. is already an all time classic. This is just the cherry on top though, as it’s my personal favorite album he’s ever put out and I’m sure I’ll be getting tons more mileage out of it for years to come. I’d say I’ve even got plenty of hope that Jeff is far from done at this point, as he still clearly has a ton left in him that could very easily wind up giving us another record as amazing as this one. NO DREAM miraculously managed to be my favorite record Jeff Rosenstock has ever been a part of to date. It blends together his signature Punk Rock punch with blissful Pinkerton-esque songwriting to make for a record that just feels needed in the dizzying state of current events today. - 9.4/10 (Best Songs - Scram!, State Line, The Beauty of Breathing)