Debut albums are usually a ton of fun to write about because they come with so much newfound promise and blissful ignorance, along with their lofty expectations in being a part of something bigger than themselves. Oakrest come shining onto the scene with their debut LP, Summer Sun, that is filled with vibrant guitars, smooth vocals, and an overall marketable sound. This Toronto-based pop-punk band appear poised for the next dramatic leap forward in their sound, especially after the glimmers of hope found in their first EP from 2019, entitled Annamaria Dr. The band is comprised of Jacob Szabo on vocals, Jacob Graves on rhythm guitar, Michael Van on lead guitar, and Chris Zoubaniotis on drums. With a polished pop-punk sound that strays somewhere between Seaway and Fountains of Wayne, Oakrest are coming straight for your pop-punk hearts.
Lead single, “Olivia,” sets the 10-track LP off on the right foot with lush guitar parts and anthemic hooks. Szabo sings passionately on the chorus of, “Olivia, you gotta know that / You’re always on my mind / Olivia, if I could show you that / You might like what you find / If I could tell you once, I’d tell you twice / Wouldn’t that be nice.” The track is reminiscent of the lyrical material found on Fountains of Wayne’s “Stacy’s Mom,” with a few new twists to the story for Oakrest to come off as more than just a tribute act to the bands that came before them.
”Nothing Serious” features some great, crunchy guitar riffs that allow the song to hit its intended target, while “Love For One Day” recalls those summer nights of lost love connections that drift away before the sunrise. The band tackles themes like relationships that come and go on “When One Door Closes,” while the shimmering beach rock of “It’s Something You Do” features a hook a minute to get you humming along even before you know what hit you.
The back half never loses momentum with pulsating tracks like “Let’s Go,” that features some energetic drumming from Chris Zoubaniotis to keep his bandmates on the right path. The title track was one of my favorites in the set of songs and it really brings the listener in with its vibrant vocals and passionate guitar parts to keep the pace going in favorable fashion. “Final Words” recalls the feelings of never looking back on past mistakes, while the album finisher “Shed My Skin” channels their love for New Found Glory and The Ataris into a crowd-pleasing closing statement.
There’s plenty to like on Oakrest’s debut LP called Summer Sun that remains focused and plays off of their love for the pop-punk genre genuinely. While not too much new ground is covered here, it’s still a very enjoyable listen from front-to-back, and would make for a great soundtrack as you and your buddies load up in the car for that beach trip you’ve been looking forward to since school let out.