Album Review: The Soft Pack - Strapped

It's been a long two years of touring since The Soft Pack's self-titled debut back in 2010. After an hiatus from the road, they have re-emerged from the studio with their 12-track follow-up record, Strapped.

This time around the lads have done things distinctly differently. Their 2010 debut featured ten (out of 12 recorded) DIY, garage-style tunes with mostly everything hitting the two-to-three minute mark. The process on Strapped was quite the opposite; with almost 80 demo ideas and 30 full tracks recorded, the boys picked 12 of their favourites. What has resulted is a very polished, modern and upbeat set of songs. There is definitely more variety on Strapped than on their debut, with The Soft Pack doing their indie rock thing as well as experimenting with slow jams, ballads and the occasional horn section. Some of this taking chances pays off nicely, with tracks like Second Look a good foray into a mid-paced jam featuring a tender guitar hook and a catchy horn line. However, it's when the boys stray a bit too far from what they know that they tend to fall a bit flat. The unfortunately-named Bound To Fall is an example of this, wherein their attempt at a slow ballad leaves Matt Lamkin's voice languishing somewhere in the middle distance with not much substance to back it up.

All in all though it's a very listenable and easily enjoyable album; you just have to try and take the best out of it and leave the rest alone.