Off The Mark

Aging Disgracefully (2018)

Pete Vincelli

Off The Mark is back from a 6-year break with the aptly named Aging Disgracefully, a record that leans towards the pop part of the punk rock spectrum. Despite this, the album glides through various influences that has a little bit of everything.

The album begins with “The Answer”, the lead single, which is musically reminiscent of Strung Out via the lead guitar riff. That comparison changes a bit when the vocals come in, lending more of a pop-punk sound to the tune. The boys add a little more of that Strung Out sound with the opening bass line on the next track “When You Say”. They rarely stray from this formula, which allows the album to remain cohesive as a result.

The band has the ability to play fast aggressive songs with ripping guitar licks, driving bass lines, and tight drum fills galore; but they can shift gears easily to slow down the tempo in songs like “Last Chance”, “Stay”, and “We’re Doing Alright”, sometimes adding an acoustic guitar to the mix to soften the sound a bit. Off The Mark is best when playing fast, yet the adjustment in tempo is a nice change of pace and forces the listener to pay attention to the (sometimes abrupt) changes within each song.

These guys are clearly good musicians and songwriters and it shows on songs like “On My Own” (among others). And it is the music that gives the album somewhat of a heavier, grittier sound in the same vein as Face to Face or No Use For A Name (i.e. “I Don’t Need This”). The vocal technique contrasts the tones of the guitar well and at times reminds me of the singer from Showoff, in regards to pronunciation and inflection.

Overall, Off The Mark has produced an album that is well-written and generally ranges in topics, though the overall theme deals with the issue of growing up and adjusting to what life throws at you. If you’re looking for a simple verse-chorus-verse-chorus type song, you’re not going to find it on this album. Every song clears the three-minute mark and is carefully calculated and carefully constructed to highlight each band member’s strength. In the end, this a great listen and it is a significant return for this Arizona-based band.