REVIEW: Guardrail's "Content" via Open Your Ears

Chicago’s “diet punks” have come up with their debut full length, or so I’ve been told. I was surprised to hear about this record being a debut considering I’ve been a fan of Guardrail for a few years now and it appears, on streaming services anyway, that they had another record in 2017 but I suppose that could be a mislabeled EP. I’m even more surprised to hear about this record at all. I didn’t know that Content was dropping until just days prior to its release and OYER used to be really on top of their promo game. Not to open this review with heavy criticism but they used to be on top of their releases as well and unfortunately for the last year or so I’ve been really underwhelmed.


I don’t hate this record and do have some nice things to say about it. I don’t really recall both vocalists in this band being used for lead duties in their past EPs and singles, maybe I’m wrong, but I have to admire the occasional second voice leading me through a track. This shines especially on “Guilt Trip,” which has a great punk energy and really compelling bass riff. My other highlight is “Games Over, Man!” with its edgier, more sad-nineties-guy presentation, more interesting production and just good songwriting through and through. The feature from the Glory Days singer also offers a nice refreshing moment that isn’t really found on the album at large.


Sadly though outside of those two tracks a lot of Content comes off as really middle of the road and sometimes to the point that I end up frustrated. “Down at the Bottom,” this record’s lead single, is literally an anthem about being a mid guy. Not rich, not poor, not exceptional at anything, just your average guy. Topics like that can be found all over this entire track listing, other easy and inoffensive topics include going to a show to have fun and sometimes it feels like there’s a level of irony at play because the quality of person this individual is singing about is reflected in equally inoffensive and uninteresting sonics as well. Much of this record comes down to pretty cut and dry pop punk that follows a verse-chorus-bridge formula and never really deviates. In fact I’m reminded of the pretty awful Travis Barker phase everyone went through in the pandemic which I thought we finally all silently agreed to never do again.


“Down at the Bottom” isn’t the only offender either. I feel like I’m warned that this record is mid and self aware of it on “Seriously?” where a hook of “what more can I say” is repeated an uncomfortable amount of times for a four minute track. “Nostalgiacore” is a tune cut to various lyrical and instrumental references to nineties and aughts-era radio rock tracks and has themes that basically boil down to the good times being over. “We used to watch Jackass together, now you’re married! Isn’t that kooky?” As if it’s the embodiment of a FaceBook group called “Do You Remember When?” “Different Universe” is almost a good song that shows some gritty punk chops but is the biggest offender with these middle of the road topics. On this one the narrator talks about how people aren’t nice anymore, it feels like a different world from where you grew up and other things you would expect from your regular in their sixties eating at the same diner every day. Like, not to be a bitch, you’re in a punk band isn’t the cruel state of society kind of your responsibility to be aware of?


I know I’m coming down really hard on this record and the thing is I’m upset by how middle of the road I feel. I don’t hate it, I don’t love it, it’s mid through and through and I can’t tell if the self awareness about how mid it is is on purpose or if it totally went over everyone’s head here. Either way, I walk away disappointed in Guardrail, disappointed in OYER and overall wishing I listened to anything else for the time I spent here.


Our rating - 5/10

Favorite tracks
  1. Seriously?
  2. Different Universe [feat. Alex Crook of Bad Planning]
  3. Down at the Bottom
  4. Joke's on Me
  5. Game Over, Man! [feat. Vince Gannon of Glory Days]
  6. Here Again
  7. Silhouette
  8. Nostalgiacore
  9. (The Long Song Title Song)
  10. Guilt Trip
  11. Save It [feat. Taylor Ericson]
  12. Hail Jupiter

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