Valencia, a five piece outfit from Philadelphia, has garnered the attention of some of the industry’s most influential people. With folks like Jason Tate of AbsolutePunk.net and Robb Hitt, formerly of Midtown and currently of I Surrender Records as fans, and having toured with some of the biggest names in the pop punk/rock scene like Boys Like Girls and All Time Low, it’s not surprising that Valencia’s sophomore album and first major-label release has attracted the attention of many.
We All Need A Reason To Believe is an eleven-track piece that tells a story of perseverance and positivity. The album comes after the loss of lead singer Shane Henderson’s close friend and girlfriend, whose tragic passing in 2006 inspired many of the tracks on this album. The first page of booklet of the CD reads, “This album was inspired by the loss of a great person. It’s dedicated to those who’ve unexpectedly passed and anyone who has ever loved, lost, and gained a new appreciation for life. We hope everyone continues in the constant pursuit of love and happiness.”
With this in mind, one can clearly hear the emotion that inspired this album. Songs like “Where Did You Go?” and “Carry On” speak to the importance of holding onto positive memories of those who are gone and emerging from experiences stronger than when you came in.
But the album is not filled with just haunting, sad ballads of lost loves – tracks like “Holiday,” “Better Be Prepared,” and “The Good Life” embrace the essence of pop punk music. Shane Henderson’s powerful vocals, coupled with exciting guitar riffs from Brendan Walters and JD Perry, along with great rhythm from bassist George Ciukurescu and drummer Max Soria give each song its own dynamic energy. It’s impossible not to sing along with this record.
Only adding to the authenticity of this album is the raw sound it brings. In days where Auto-tune is a lead singer’s best friend, Valencia proves to the listener that a real band can record an album without coming across as over processed. The talent of these five guys really shines through and makes me itch to be in the same room as them performing live. It doesn’t hurt that they are five of the most genuine, humble people you could ever meet, spending hours chatting with fans online, responding to Myspace messages personally, and always out after a set to meet and thank their fans.
I have to echo the sentiment of many reviewers of Valencia before me – in an age where true pop punk is quickly dying and being replaced with synthesized beats and auto-tuned voices, Valencia is reviving it.
Valencia is currently touring .. dates on the east coast and will be heading on a cross-country tour with Oakland rockers The Matches and headliner Bayside in the fall. Be sure to check them out on at least one of the dates, I promise you will not be disappointed.
Photos from: valenciamusic.net, mtv.com, and absolutepunk.net
