Album Review :
Eleventyseven - The Quota EP

Artist: Eleventyseven

Album: The Quota EP

Label: None

Release Date: March 22, 2011

Reviewer: Eric Pettersson

Tracklisting

1. Don’t Want to Fall
2. College Girls
3. Divers in a Hurricane
4. Book of Secrets
5. Quota
6. Take on Me

If you’re like me, you remember hearing the name Eleventyseven alongside Hawk Nelson and Stellar Kart a few years ago, and you passed them over because you were getting tired of pop punk and wanted to hear some good emo and indie rock instead. In fact, when I got this record for review, my first thought was, “Oh, are they still around? Good for them.”  Having listened my standard four times before writing this review, I see why the band was able to make it. Now out on their own without Flicker Records, Eleventyseven continue to make fast and fun pop punk with high auto-tuned vocals, heavy synth, and sugar-soaked choruses.

Now, if you’re like me, you read that description and started to tune out. I mean, you’re just too cool for this stuff now, right? That was certainly how I felt on my first spin. With each new song, I thought, “Oh boy, you gotta be kidding me.” This was especially true for the reggae influenced title track. Then I got to the final song, a cover of A-ha’s 1985 synthpop hit “Take on Me.” The original is major cheese, but it does have one catchy signature riff. It was a total shock to hear it on this release, and it was also a ton of fun. I found myself saying “That’s awesome” as soon as it played. As I continued to listen to the EP for this review, it grew on me more each time. And just as the title track was originally the cheesiest, it ended up being my favorite. Can I help that it’s catchy? I know I lose major scene points at IVM for saying this, but after several listens I must admit I really enjoy this release.

Overall: One of the best things about reviewing music is that it forces me to listen to things I wouldn’t normally be exposed to, and I have to listen more closely than I maybe would otherwise. In this case, it means being exposed to super poppy and youthful pop punk and listening enough that it grew on me. You can’t take yourself seriously listening to it, but that’s kind of the point. It’s supposed to be fun and a little silly, leaving you in a feel-good mood. The lyrics match, talking about working through the pain of breakups or not being able to pay rent by looking to the bright side, loving life, and having some fun. If all you hardcore kids have one guilty pleasure this year, make it Eleventyseven’s Quota EP.