Man Overboard - Passing Ends (EP Review)

Pop/punk tends to fit really nicely in the spring and summer and occasionally you get a nice fall release that works well. It's not easy though. Most pop/punk bands dropping pop/punk albums or EPs released in the fall or winter tend to get the dreaded reviews or comments such as “this sounds like it should have been released three months ago.” Man Overboard's new Passing Ends comes as a nice fall surprise.

Last year the band released Heart Attack. Although it was a good album, it seemed like at times it got overshadowed by The Wonder Years and The Story So Far's new albums. That's just how it goes occasionally. The band has also been kind of quiet this year with a few tours here and there. From what I've read the band has gone through some tough personal times including the death in one of the member's family. Those things not only impacted their touring but also some of the lyrical content on Passing Ends.

Like I said pop/punk can be tricky in the fall. However, I personally think this EP succeeds. It has a really nice vibe for this time of year. The personal and introspective lyrics to some of the songs showcase an interesting side for Man Overboard. Even the lone full band title track on an otherwise acoustic EP feels more like a fall emo/punk rock song rather than a summer pop/punk anthem. It'd be really neat to hear a few more tracks like "Passing Ends". It's definitely a standout Man Overboard song and it's nice to get the one full band song to go with the acoustic songs. The acoustic songs and the vocal performance really fit this time of year nicely. "For Vince" is a standout song and is a personal song about the death of vocalist Nik Bruzzese's father.

The band recorded the EP themselves and released it on their own label. I think the songs definitely sound like they have that personal touch that bands have when they do a self-recording. That is that the songs can sometimes feel a little more close to home and the EP has a real direction to it. I like that. It definitely feels like the band has a ton of heart on this EP. There aren't a ton of bells and whistles added and it isn't too much of a stretch from the Man Overboard sound we've heard in the past. However, the little nuances in tone or lyrics do add something to the EP that we don't always hear from the group. You still get the trademark Man Overboard vocals, which to me is something that defines this group and really anchors them on pretty much anything they've released. 

Man Overboard is one of the better and more notable pop/punk bands from the pop/punk revival of a few years ago. These songs add new elements but still maintain Man Overboard's basic style. This is a nice EP to hold you over until the band records their next album, which the band stated should be sometime early next year. You get four really good acoustic songs and a really nice and standout full band song. It's nice to see them mature some and move from the young upcoming band they were a few years ago to more towards elder statesman territory in their scene. Man Overboard delivers another batch of great earworms and sing-along-able songs with Passing Ends.