After a smattering of singles and EPs over the last few years, the Nashville punk trio WINONA FIGHTER have finally graced our ears with their debut album, My Apologies To The Chef. It comes at a perfect time amidst a resurgent punk scene that has packed a punch in recent years. Whilst the sound overall on this album isn’t anything new or breath taking, it’s a fun album that feels a little nostalgic for the mid 2000s with similar styles to that of NEW FOUND GLORY and SUM 41.
Opening the album is JUMPERCABLES which could easily fit onto soundtracks for films like American Pie and Wet Hot American Summer. It has a simple yet punchy riff that has a distorted sound effect on it as it holds up the song throughout listening as it chugs its way through and serves as a great little earworm. A lot of the heavy lifting on this record goes to vocalist Coco Kinnan as she effortlessly weaves her way through a combination of singing and shouting, displaying the perfect amount of attitude that keeps you hooked and eager to hear the rest of the record.
You Look Like A Drunk Phoebe Bridgers follows on from this and continues the momentum built up from its predecessor. The attitude remains and the music hits you like a punch that keeps going once it starts and never looks back. The chorus itself is the highlight of the song and makes you desperate to see it performed live. Subaru comes next with a rough around the edges sound that bands like SUM 41 and early BLINK-182 built their names on. It’s a quick and frenetic track that keeps your attention from start to finish.
HAMMS IN A GLASS is one of the album’s more interesting tracks as it still keeps the rough around the edges feel to it, whilst opting for a much heavier track that allows WINONA FIGHTER to showcase their musical skills in a way that doesn’t just focus on punk/pop-punk by having an almost heavy feel to it, as by the time you reach the song’s crescendo, we are treated to a great little guitar solo. It’s a song that is sure to conjure huge mosh pits live. In the build up this album, almost all of its songs have been released, so when you get to songs such as Talk and Swimmer’s Ear, it’s a cool little treat as you’re traversing unheard territory.
Thankfully, both songs show they belong on the album as Talk is a punk anthem full to the brim with a snarling attitude with its vocals and musicality that makes you want to hear it again as soon as it’s over, going hand in hand with Swimmer’s Ear. R U FAMOUS is a damning indictment of those who pursue an interest with others purely because of their status which unfortunately happens to many up and coming bands and works as a great “fuck you” to those who are desperate to be in this position despite not wanting to put in the work for it.
Whilst the album itself is fourteen songs long, there are many other bands where this would feel a little too long. Where the strengths lie in this record is that each song is concise, punchy, effective and lasts just long enough for you to keep wanting more. Tracks such as I Think You Should Leave and I’m In the Market To Please No One keep you entertained as they take their turn to scratch that pop-punk itch that remains whilst listening to this entire album. ATTENTION once again throws a curveball on the album that keeps its sound fresh instead of going stale. A great driving riff combined with an incredible shredding guitar solo hype the song up as Kinnan snarls her way through a track that will leave any listener feeling empowered by the time it reaches its end. Wlbrn St Tvrn is yet another twist to the record and truly ups the ante, focusing on a much harder sound that ever so slightly dips its toes into a hardcore vibe that conjures glorious of sweaty circle pits in a small venue that will surely be a highlight when performed live.
As we get ever closer to the My Apologies To The Chef‘s end, Swear To God That I’m (FINE) and Johnny’s Dead are another pairing of songs that go hand in hand which brings us back round to the pop-punk centric songs that are embedded in this album, they have you begging for warmer weather as they truly feel like they need to be played out loud during a summer’s day with mates. DON’T WALLOW brings the album to a close and for the first time in nearly forty five minutes slows down, giving us a little breather right at the end. It’s a great anthemic ending to a great album that makes you want more from WINONA FIGHTER as soon as it’s over.
My Apologies To The Chef is a great debut album from WINONA FIGHTER. You just wish you hadn’t been exposed to so many of the songs in the build up as it would have been an even better listen to hear a lot of these songs for the first time, but the exposure of all these tracks will surely earn them a great fan base that they can build upon over the years. The album is fun, packed full of heart and reminds you of a much simpler and enjoyable time that gives you a wonderful piece of escapism from the world through its music. It’s great to see how strong all these songs are currently and makes you excited for what’s to come next from the band as they build on the foundations of their debut for a future that will surely see them become bigger and better!
Rating: 7/10
My Apologies To The Chef is out now via Rise Records.
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