Recommended Tracks: “I’m So Alive!,” “Marilyn,” “Last At The Party”
Artists You Might Like: The Summer Set, Deaf Havana, The Wrecks
“I took a lot of time / To get a little bit steady.” These are the opening words to “Lose Your Way & Find Yourself,” a self-assured pop-punk anthem released by Brighton-based band As It Is released last fall. The song marked the first of new music from the lads since their 2022 album, I WENT TO HELL AND BACK, introducing fans to a new era. With its diaristic lyrics, acoustic guitar-led melodies, and feel-good choruses, “Lose Your Way & Find Yourself” felt like the most appropriate way to return for As It Is. In the years they were away, they learned more about each other, about themselves, and about the music they want to make together. So, if “Lose Your Way & Find Yourself” seemed like a new beginning for the band, it was meant to be.
For their self-titled album, As It Is make a departure from the tortured pop-punk music fans have listened to over the years. This evolution is natural, of course, as several new factors came into play in the recording process. First, the album finds a return to the band’s 2018 lineup, after a brief member change. Next, the album was created while the band was not on tour—marking a first for As It Is. Finally, after using the time away to heal and reflect, the band tapped into a newfound confidence to make music that spoke to who they are now instead of who they were. The result is a 12-track project that celebrates the band’s brotherhood, their passion for songwriting, and their hopeful new mindset for the future.
The first few tracks set the tone for this new chapter. The album opens with “I’m So Alive!,” which starts out with the chipper chorus of “You got me feeling I’m so alive / Like sunshine / Like suicide / I feel so happy I could cry / Like all the time.” From there, the track sprawls out into a lively pop-punk anthem, complete with a sax solo and choir. It’s a big production, it’s a fresh spirit, and it’s a far cry from the darkness of I WENT TO HELL AND BACK.
But, who says that all of the darkness has come to pass? As It Is might be evolving into a more optimistic band, but they are still affected by demons lurking outside and skeletons hiding in the shadows. On “Ruin My Life,” the guys team up with Murray Macleod from The XCERTS as they revel in the past. The message of the song might be obvious under the anthemic choruses, where frontman Patty Walters announces, “I’m gonna ruin my life / Self-sabotage on my mind,” but overall, the track acknowledges the importance of living life to the fullest with the people you love the most. A similar message comes up on “Do You Remember?,” as the band reminisces on moments of “breaking up and breaking down.” They remind us, “Friends are family that you choose,” aware that you can go through just about anything with your friends, whereas your family might be a different story. One specific friend is “Marilyn,” whom Walters remembers on this folk-pop sounding track. He recalls the “cool things you said to make me feel a little better,” even though those things were said a long time ago. With a bittersweet edge, he admits, “I wish I could hear you again,” fondly choosing not to let go.
After the societal commentary moment of “Live, Laugh, Love, Los Angeles,” which finds As It Is observing the “divided days in the United States,” the band breaks out of their reflective zone. They dive into songs that are more “in the moment,” such as “Watching The World Go Bye.” Here, the “apocalyptic” vibe that was found on “Live, Laugh, Love, Los Angeles” comes out again as Walters sings about those left behind after death. With a warm heart, he shares, “I wanna die with you / I don’t wanna leave the world behind / Unless you do.” This sentiment continues on the tender “If I Ever Lose You.” Led by piano and acoustic guitar strums, the track plays out as a heartfelt confession with lyrics that center on support and guidance. We hear, “I’ll bring the light to where you are” and “I don’t know what I’d do / If I ever lost you,” letting the listener know that they are not alone. But in life, not all bonds strengthen. There are times when they weaken, as told on “Not Anymore.” On this acoustic guitar-driven track, Walters shares, “We were perfect / But not anymore,” which signals the end. It would be great if all could stay perfect in life, but perfection is not realistic.
It’s true that “Lose Your Way & Find Yourself” was the first single from the album, but it wasn’t the only song that touched on mental health. There’s “Last At The Party,” a ballad with exposed piano lines and a stripped-down production. I shed some tears when I first heard this one, especially in the choruses. If “Maybe don’t fall in love so easy” doesn’’t get you, perhaps “Any pain’s a heavy weight / But at least you’re only lonely / ‘Cause some things are meant to be a moment / Meant to keep you hoping” will do the trick. In the end, you deserve more, and you deserve to live the life you want before you “Turn To Dust.” On this folksy, stomping-groove track, As It Is accept that life is what you make it, and sometimes all you can do is live in the moment. You can “dance till we turn to dust,” or you can watch to see your life “get colder in a world that’s getting warmer still.” The choice is yours.
But with any luck, you will find the time to look on the bright side. With “What If It All Works Out,” the band brings their self-titled album to a close, but they do so in an uplifting way. They tell us, “No one out there’s getting better / Till they make a few regrets,” and they explain that being in your head all the time “does more damage in the end.” Overall, you don’t have to be afraid of the future. With some faith, Walters asks, “What if failing isn’t failure, it’s a chance to start again?” I mean, you have to preserve the hope.
About this album, guitarist and co-vocalist Ben Langford-Biss shares, “This is our reality, and reality is looking a bit more positive these days. We’re a band known for four quite depressing albums. But days fluctuate and things change. That’s mental health. But to be able to look at everything with a different and more positive outlook on the future is all that we wanted to say.” So, if As It Is’ four previous albums were bleak and grim, let the self-titled be a friendly ray of light. This is As It Is at their most confident, their most loving, and their most proud selves, and these qualities come through in the feel of the album’s songs. It may not be the album that has all the answers or the album that is the most upbeat and cheerful, but it is the album that fans can turn to in their most forgiving days.
As It Is is out now via FLG. You can listen to it here.
Catch As It Is on tour here.
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