May 8th, 2021
Written By Jubilee Vega
Revisiting Boyfriends: "A Discography of Mediocre Punk Rock (2009-2012)”
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With the 5th wave of emo upon us, it feels appropriate to step back and look at the first waves of emo. Former punk/emo group Boyfriends from Lancaster, Pennsylvania were one of the many bands in part of the Emo Revival: a period where emo bands in the mid-2000s & 2010s built a community and sound for themselves. However, Boyfriends never got their fair share in the scene as other notable emo bands did. Today at Punkaganda Press, we’re revisiting Boyfriends and their music!
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The first track off their discography “BF1” brings a rock-influenced sound with punk vocals. The track immediately makes you want to jump around and sing from the top of your lungs. On the contrary, “BF2” offers a more mellowed-out vibe with melancholy instrumentals. The heavy vocals plus the intense lyrics radiate strong emo influences. The same can be said for “BF3.” The clashing of the cymbals and twinkly-like guitar ooze an authentic emo track.
We take a small break from vocals as we’re offered an instrumental track titled “Instrumental.” Featuring an array of talent, the track shows that vocals aren’t always needed and the instruments themselves can provide just as much. Back to vocals, “1 (800) Bad Doug” starts with a chatty voicemail and transitions into a catchy, punk anthem. While “Marc is Gary” is an upbeat, fast punk track filled with tuneful riffs and distorted instruments. Each track differs from the other but shows Boyfriend’s unique place in the Emo Revival.
We take a small break from vocals as we’re offered an instrumental track titled “Instrumental.” Featuring an array of talent, the track shows that vocals aren’t always needed and the instruments themselves can provide just as much. Back to vocals, “1 (800) Bad Doug” starts with a chatty voicemail and transitions into a catchy, punk anthem. While “Marc is Gary” is an upbeat, fast punk track filled with tuneful riffs and distorted instruments. Each track differs from the other but shows Boyfriend’s unique place in the Emo Revival.
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The next track “Those Dude Boys” provides a minor pop-punk influence with its fast tempo and pop-like melodies. While “Too Wild For Wild” shows another form of emo: Midwest Emo. With the use of eccentric vocals and gloomy guitars, the track embodies the emotion of a midwest emo ballad. Halfway through the album, Boyfriends discography, so far, has shown their artistry in blending genres.
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Moving forward, both “I Heard Punching” and “People Stuff” include catchy riffs and rhythmical lyrics. Whereas “Real Serious Shit” starts with an appealing riff and attention-grabbing drum beats. It continues to drag you in with its twinkly guitar as the track ends. The twinkly-distorted guitar doesn’t end as it continues in “Chobra Son.” The guitar transitions into a heavy riff and flows nicely with the vocals. The same is said for “Untitled” as it encompasses the same elements. While “Deepak” feels more like a demo with isolated vocals and tuned-out instrumentals. Featuring audio over the consistent guitar riffs, “Untitled” presents itself as the most unique out of the band’s discography.
With only four tracks left in Boyfriend’s discography, their sound and presence are still heard. “Two” features elements of catchy guitar riffs and euphoric vocals. An edit of “Chobra Son” done by Barf Academy is also included. The edit offers a cleaner version of the track and allows the listener to hear the lyrics clearly. “Four” gives the angst passion with the gritty guitars and heavy vocals. The same for “Five” as the angst is heard clearly through the vocalist. As the track starts to end, the last riff of the guitar plays colliding with the vocals.
All in all, Boyfriends is definitely a group that was truly forgotten during the most impactful time for emo bands. Their discography proved that their artistry deserved way more credit. With their use of different genre elements and vocal range, Boyfriends deserved to be remembered. If you haven’t already, check out their discography on all streaming services!
With only four tracks left in Boyfriend’s discography, their sound and presence are still heard. “Two” features elements of catchy guitar riffs and euphoric vocals. An edit of “Chobra Son” done by Barf Academy is also included. The edit offers a cleaner version of the track and allows the listener to hear the lyrics clearly. “Four” gives the angst passion with the gritty guitars and heavy vocals. The same for “Five” as the angst is heard clearly through the vocalist. As the track starts to end, the last riff of the guitar plays colliding with the vocals.
All in all, Boyfriends is definitely a group that was truly forgotten during the most impactful time for emo bands. Their discography proved that their artistry deserved way more credit. With their use of different genre elements and vocal range, Boyfriends deserved to be remembered. If you haven’t already, check out their discography on all streaming services!
