We Are Still Alive

Lots of bands take the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" maxim to heart, but Latterman take it one enthusiastic step further this time around by adopting an "If it ain't broke, let's just make it as goddamn anthemic as humanly possible" outlook. The record both begins and ends with tracks that implore, "If today the ground gives in, I hope we won't fall alone." As such, the Long Island crew's third album to date, ...We Are Still Alive, is like the musical equivalent of a friend patting you on the back and dragging you out for a cold beer after spending the day feeling a bit down. It's an energizing, honest, spirited, and totally unaffected display of emotion and exuberance that worms its way into your subconscious and leaves you feeling contented and revived. Absolutely their best album yet, the playing is aggressive and shout-singing impassioned; the band balances out being tough without being harsh, heartfelt without being emo, and uplifting without succumbing to cheese. If you're not hoarse after a few spins, then something is wrong — the record is packed to the gills with sweaty and riotous blasts of friendship, empowerment, and the simple importance of making each moment count. Ideal for crowded basement punk shows, open stretches of highway, or just hanging out with friends, the guys of Latterman play like nothing else in the world matters outside of them, their music, and those close to them, which of course includes the fans right there in the pit next to them. So stop reading this, grab your buddies, and start pumping that fist toward the sky — you've got some singing to do.