It never gets old when a local outfit we were into or covered previously (Alternately, Into AND covered) make a record that showcases how much they’ve grown and generally excel at their craft. Take Boston’s Why Try? for example (And also because that’s who we’re reviewing today) who we last featured around the release of the late 2020 record Just Fine and covers all of that sentiment and then some with an album like Honeymoon that just feels like it’s on the cusp of some greatness.
Why Try? is not the same band. And that’s not to say the Boston-based quintet is now collaborating with Snoop Dogg or have a random obscure cover that they’ve slowed down and reimagined on their latest, Honeymoon. It’s more that they’ve metamorphosized and fans get to bear witness (Or more accurately, hear) the results throughout their newest collection of powerful prose set to music.
“Clipped Wings” shines out of the gate swinging with a powerful guitar line before the rest of Why Try? converge for a track that’s both a “Welcome Back!” but also a statement of “This is who we are now!” that flows across the rest of the record brilliantly. “All I Have” is a Richa “Razz” Saran feature to an extent in that the singer gets a chance to highlight a range from subdued to sweeping while sustaining those notes over broad periods as Andrew Barry and Sean “OB” OBrien deliver striking guitar licks.
“Tidal Wave” is probably the closest one would find to Why Try?’s “old self” (Again if that’s even a thing) and even this is a cut above with drummer Warren Scherb’s performance particularly standing out as repeated listens yield that the magic behind Honeymoon is how meaningful each note tapped, strummed, plucked, and sang is on an album that is ultimately dense and deliberate. The title track is just another level of what great Alternative, Soulful Rawk should sound like with layers upon layers laid down, “Grace” is soothing with Will Anderson’s bass creating a sort of fluidity against Scherb’s consistent sticks as Saran emotes on offering some “Grace” because “Being 22 was a fucking nightmare”.
“Automatic Panic” is an interesting one leaning into the heavier elements of ’90’s Alternative (Within the Pop field and less in terms of Grunge “heavy”) with Barry handling lead vox (And Saran giving a killer spoken word breakdown deeper in) here for not necessarily a different vibe but more an exciting new flavor of Why Try? if that makes sense. “High Beams” is almost like classic Fleetwood Mac mixed with ’80’s Heart that’s not quite a ballad/duet kind of venture but more a Power Pop Ballad or just a kickass collab in the vein of “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” and just a driving anthem.
“Ghost” has Barry at the mic again with an Alterna-Country jam by way of the Northeast with some twang to act like a gateway drug for fans who declare “I listen to everything except Country” and then “The Ride” is like the closing song at your favorite bar and the trope of “you don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here”. In the case of Honeymoon, though, you can just start the thing over at least especially this one with its’ serenely sweet Saran vocal lines that guide the track along, building and building, adding the electric back into the mix subtly then full force as the pace picks up and then drops in a cacophony of good times had by all to end the album.
The Honeymoon begins on April 6th and you can head here and here to make sure you’re on top of where to get/hear your copy the moment in lands. For more from Why Try?, including upcoming tour dates like the record release show at Deep Cuts with Viruette and The Roscoes on 4/6, follow the socials across the interwebs when you click here or here.