Strange Lyfe and all its youthful angst is finally available to stream in full, and we should be rejoicing at finally being able to hear its dejected jams. But Places to Hide’s sophomore LP is bittersweet because it’s the last we’ll be hearing from the Atlanta foursome that recently announced its breakup. As they lament cars proudly bearing Confederate flags and getting stiffed on tips by yuppies, it’s hard not to dream about their bright future that could have been.
The album doesn’t err from the pace set by its singles, “B. Murphy” and “Punk Vacation,” the latter of which featured a steady beat overlaid with steadier complaints about cops, rent, and boredom. Strange Lyfe continues to challenge the state of affairs, with the band bringing another kvetch about society or their personal lives on every track. As sad as it is to say, the disengaged tone through which each gripe is snarled is only amplified by the knowledge that this is Places to Hide’s last hurrah. They will be sorely missed, but their socially active pop punk for slackers will live on.
Strange Lyfe is out September 20 on Places to Hide’s own Irrelevant Recordings.
