 |
  
 
 |
|
Punchline
Posted by Editorial Intern on 31-May-06 @ 12:58 PM|
HQ: Pittsburgh, PA
NOW PLAYING: 37 Everywhere (FUELED BY RAMEN) WHY YOU SHOULD KNOW 'EM: They might be the dark horse on Fueled By Ramen's roster, but if you've spent any time on PureVolume.com lately, chances are you already know--and love--Punchline. YOU LIKE? YOU'LL LIKE: The Academy Is... / Plain White T's / Taking Back Sunday When he was around 15 years old, Steve Soboslai began noticing the number 37 popping up wherever he went. "People thought I was crazy," he recalls, "but every time I would look at a clock it would be, like, 5:37, 2:37 and so on, and I was seeing it on license plates, in phone numbers, movies, and on TV." A few more years and several numeric coincidences, the Punchline guitarist/vocalist decided to name his quartet's sophomore effort for Fueled By Ramen in honor of his favorite prime digit. "The guys in my band started seeing it a lot, too," he continues. "The NFL MVP this year [Shaun Alexander], his number was 37, the winning hand of this year's World Series Of Poker was 3-7, and we ironically wrote 37 songs for the album. I wish they could have all been on it." The original Punchline-up--Soboslai, bassist/vocalist Chris Fafalios and drummer PJ Caruso--came together in the summer of 1997, and quickly garnered attention for the dual lead vocals and powerful harmonies at the foreground of their peppy debut, Action, which came out in 2004. While guitarist Paul Menotiades (who joined the band in 2001 following the release of the band's little-known album, Major Motion Picture) left the band last January, Soboslai says the arrival of former West Beverly axe-slinger Greg Wood was instrumental in taking the band's sound to a new level. "Greg's guitar playing is absolutely amazing," Soboslai enthuses. "I listened to our album and can't believe some of his guitar parts on the CD." Not that Punchline v2.0 emphasize guitars over vocals. As Soboslai is quick to assure, "There's still vocals all over the place [on 37]." Interlocking dual harmonies may've been the band's calling card, but don't expect the album's 11 tracks--recorded just down the street from Café 37 in New York City--to fall into any kind of formula. "I feel like on a lot of albums I listen to, the songs sound the same and run into each other, and unless you know the band very well, you can't tell the songs apart," Soboslai says. "Each one of our songs on the new album is very well-defined. "Writing songs and recording an album is almost like working on a math problem that you have to figure out," he continues. "There are so many ups and downs in recording that you don't know how it's going to turn out, but we came out on top with it." --Julie Seabaugh UNDER THE INFLUENCE What Album's Had The Greatest Influence On You? "The Get Up Kids' Something to Write Home About," Soboslai says without hesitation. "Have you heard it? That album, the first second I heard it, it changed my life. 'Holiday' is the best first song on any album. Touring with the Get Up Kids on their farewell tour just tops it all off." ALT |
