My Favourite Runner Up – Crossroads

My Favourite Runner Up hailing from North Wales have just released their debut album ‘Crossroads’ and there is a lot to be said about it! The band draw their influences from the likes of New Found Glory, Jimmy Eat World and Mayday Parade – this shines through as each of the tracks have that quality you’d find on any of their early releases.

We start with ‘Light a Fire’ – from the second it kicks in you feel that this is going to be an album of upbeat, catchy tracks that will still be stuck in your head days later. The opening seconds will grab hold of you and ensure you are giving it your full attention.

It’s on track three ‘Never Again’ where My Favourite Runner Up begin to show a slightly different side. On what is arguably one of the more catchy tracks on the album, the lyrics begin to take a more honest direction, a break away from the first two tracks, and you can see another side to the band. This happens in a way that doesn’t feel off course, but instead a slight change of pace which gives an extra punch to the opening of the next track. Which leads me to give special mention to ‘Love Comes First’. Extremely catchy and anthemic, a clear nod to those influences that have pushed the band to the level they are. It’s here that you really get a feel of what these guys have to offer, and it is about here that this album steps up a level.

Closing track ‘Home’ showcases more of the deeper level of honesty in the song writing that so many bands lack. A strong track that nicely ties together something that is genuinely, a joy to listen too.

The thing about ‘Crossroads’ that gives it a strong edge above some of the other albums released this year – is that you can truly feel that this is a collection of tracks that really need to be heard and seen live. The energy just seeps from every beat of the drums and every guitar strum, almost filling you with the uncontrollable desire to dance, or at the very least, flay a limb about.

Crossroads’ ticks all the right boxes for creating a good pop-punk rock album –  full of catchy, honest songs and strong riffs. All in all, it is well worth making sure catch this band live, because what is clear about My Favourite Runner Up is that there is a level of untapped potential coursing through this album, and it’ll be interesting to see what this band are truly capable of. Which I am sure will be the band explode!

My Favourite Runner Up’ drop their eagerly awaited debut album ‘Crossroads’ on 17th February through all digital outlets.