Consistency is hard to come by in the music industry. Times change, sounds change, and stylistic choices over time can evolve into something completely different than what was popular a decade ago. The great thing about music, however, is that if you can write good songs you can find sustainable success in the music business, regardless of genre. Neon Trees have been one of the most consistent pop rock bands since they debuted in 2010 with Habits, and found early success in singles like “Animal” and the karaoke favorite of “Everybody Talks.” Having now released their fifth studio album, called Sink Your Teeth, Neon Trees’ sound still feels as refreshing as ever as they return to the music scene. The band released the first taste of the new record back in June of 2023 with lead single “Favorite Daze.” As great as Neon Trees are at writing a catchy chorus, this particular single features some of the best verses of their career to date. The rest of the material that surrounds the track feels like a sonic evolution of the band that continues to showcase their staying power in the pop rock scene.
Where Neon Trees last record, I Can Feel You Forgetting Me, embraced the more somber side of the pop genre through darker tones and moody aesthetic, Sink Your Teeth gets back to the shimmering sound that the band embraced on Pop Psychology. After the aforementioned vibrant opening track, “Secret” follows in the sequencing with great guitar work and an amazing build-up to the chorus of, “Now you’re so far away / But you’re still here in my head / Gonna lock you up and keep you like a, secret / Every night and all day / The feeling like we just met / Gonna lock you up and keep you like a secret.” The hook feels like a burst of sunshine hitting you in the face on a perfect summer day.
My personal favorite in the set, “Bad Dreams” is a solid mix of guitar-driven pop rock meshed with the smooth vocals of Tyler Glenn, who commands the song and never lets up. Not to say that the lyrics have a few missteps, like in the second verse when Glenn playfully sings, “I’m still on stage, and you’re watching me count the stars / Then I eat you up like milk and lucky charms.” The lyrics are forgivable when the music that comes through the speakers are a burst of good vibes. “Recover” features some different sounding guitar tones in the opening bars before getting to a comfortable blend of synth pop in the verses. The pre-chorus of, “We fought with each other / An ending so blue / I’ll never recover / Recover from you,” is as well thought out as it is sad to hear about the heartbreak in Glenn’s life.
The summery pop bliss of “Heaven” marks a stark contrast to the spanglish track of “El Diablo” and makes for a memorable transition in the sequencing to go between the two vibes. It’s a nice way to close out the Side A of the disc, and keeps the listener engaged in the album listening experience.
The back half opens with “Past Life” that kicks things off with a unique, programmed beat before Glenn’s vocals cut through the heavy synths with surgeon-like precision. The heavy bass line in the chorus by Branden Campbell is top notch and it pulsates the song into a club-ready anthem. “Paper Cuts” features some great lyrical wordplay in the chorus of, “I can cover a scar, yeah I’m keeping it cool / Cause the thicker the skin the darker the blue / Why does it hurt so much / Every time we touch / You’re givin’ me paper cuts.” You can tell Neon Trees were in a good groove at this part of their songwriting process for Sink Your Teeth, and their great band chemistry remains on full display.
”Cruel Intentions” features a very The 1975-esque chorus with the guitar tones brought forth over Glenn’s vocals of, “You got cruel intentions / Sink your teeth in / To your new obsession / 3 day weekends / Well I’ll be gone on Monday / You clean up the mess you made / You got cruel intentions / And I intend to run away.” The guitar work by Chris Allen cannot be understated in its importance throughout the record, while drummer Elaine Bradley keeps everything clicking along in tandem.
A rare ballad from Neon Trees comes in the form of “Acting,” a somber song about the pitfalls of one-sided relationships. The listener is likely on Glenn’s side by this point of the record, and is rooting for his eventual happiness. “Leave” is a piano-laced mid-tempo song that continues to evolve as it unfolds. The verse of “Come now go and raise the stakes / Thrill me, kill me / Break my heart for goodness sake,” is a painful reminder of the risks that come with falling head over heels in love in a relationship, but the reward at the end makes it all worthwhile. The closer of “Losing My Head” is an electric-charged, nearly industrial-type song that finds Neon Trees continuing to tinker with their pop rock sound into edgier material. It’s a nice way of closing out this latest chapter in the band’s self discovery and keeps the interest high in where the band could take their sound next. Sink Your Teeth continues to show that Neon Trees can and will evolve to stay on top of their game, and the band consistently impresses all over the record.