The Artist Life

When the Artist Life self-released Living last year, it was clear the band would be moving in one of two directions on future releases. The first of these would have seen the band embrace commercial pop punk, along with the lack of lyrical substance and musical progression that would come with it. Instead, the Toronto group have followed the steps of a more mature form of melodic punk seen in bands such as the Loved Ones, the Swellers and Smoke or Fire. Let’s Start a Riot is the Artist Life’s first proper release and one of the year’s finest contributions to Canada’s melodic punk community. The band’s catchy hooks, combined with a lyrical optimism akin to Latterman, make them just as easy for a grown man to tap his foot along to as today’s teenagers, all without feeling guilty about it. Now when’s the full-length due?