ALBUM REVIEW: Daytrader – Twelve Years

2012 brings the heartbreakingly underrated Rise Records debut from Long Island’s finest newcomers, Daytrader. With Mike Sapone (the brains behind the likes of Brand New and Taking Back Sunday) firmly on their side, things are looking good for Daytrader.

Kicking off the album in true Daytrader style, the New York quintet throw us a gem in the form of instant nod-a-long, ‘deadfriends’. This is where you really start to hear the Brand New influences creeping in, but that’s certainly not to say they’re confined to that particular genre – in fact, it couldn’t be more the opposite. An irresistible concoction of punk, alternative and god knows what else, they’ve managed to pull off an appealingly experimental style that many bands take at least three or four releases to find. Admittedly it is very, very similar to Brand New’s Your Favourite Weapon, but that is 100% a positive thing – they’ve managed to master that signature sound without completely sounding like a rip-off.

In all fairness, we’re quite hard pressed to find a fault in Twelve Years. Although it isn’t a million miles from their 2011 EP, Last Days of Rome, it’s certainly an improvement. ‘Skin & Bones’ is a bit of a mood-killer, and ending with the tedious-in-parts ‘Letter to a Former Lover’ might not have been the wisest of moves, but overall Daytrader’s efforts are to be applauded. In an era where the world and their mums are trying to break into the industry, Twelve Years really is the breath of fresh air we’ve all been craving. Cheers, Daytrader!