Smooth Brain, pop-punk band from the tri-state area, have released an addictive new album. “I Wonder What I’ve Missed” is beautifully emotional and energetic, full of intense guitar and melodic harmonies. The record is a deep ocean, with each song creating a new wave of emotion before crashing onto the surface and settling with a sense of tranquility. “What I’ve Missed” starts the album with a ripple, with gentle notes creating a sense of serenity. The harmonies that follow add to the feeling and make you feel like you’ve been taken to the sea, floating on the water as the current moves you along.

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Guitar chords crash down as the first wave hits. It knocks you off balance, but the steady drum beats hold you stable. The vocals come in as the next wave, forcing you down under the surface to watch the sky become further away as the drums get faster and the vocals get louder. The track is a beautiful way to set the tone for the album. Lasting about a minute and a half, it fills you with anticipation of what’s in store. The record is wonderfully poignant Lyrically, it encapsulates the ebbs and flows of humanness, focusing on both the ugly and the beautiful. Musically, the album goes from mellow melodies with slow guitar to loud screaming, heavy drums and insane guitar riffs. Full of guitar solos that electrify your soul and harmonies that fill you with light, the record takes music to another level.

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Something that sets it apart from others is the cover of Olivia Rodrigo’s “good 4 u.” A cover that would definitely be included in a “Punk Goes Pop” album, Smooth Brain make the song their own with the use of electric guitar and harsh drums. This combined with the small portion of Paramore’s “Misery Business” mixed into the song creates an early 2000s energy that fills you with nostalgia. “I Wonder What I’ve Missed” is overall a showstopping record, and as Smooth Brain recently announced their indefinite hiatus, it can be seen as a beautiful goodbye.

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