Artist vs Poet – Remember This

Artist vs Poet – Remember This
Album Review by Taylor Pittman 

After losing multiple members including their lead vocalist earlier last year, Artist Vs Poet came face to face with several options dealing with the future of the band. Guitarist Joe Kirkland and bassist Jason Dean were the only remaining members of the popular pop-punk group formed in 2007. With the addition of new guitarist Dylan Stevens and the transition of Kirkland to lead vocals, the group decided to continue putting out music under the same name trusting only their instincts and their loyal fan base. The band introduced the new line up with a holiday EP entitled Naughty or Nice that was met with high praise from fans. The group then began posting videos of demos of original songs and covers of popular hits like Taylor Swift’s “Mean” and Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe.” Several views later, it seemed that the trio was ready for the next big step: an album. Remember This, a completely acoustic album, was finally released on April 25th. Filled with raw emotion and deep lyrics, the album seems like the perfect way for the band to prove to their fans that Artist Vs Poet isn’t going anywhere.

With a fast paced guitar intro, “Leavin’ in the Morning” is the perfect album opener. A slower piano melody introduces each chorus and leads into an explosion of lyrics. With an appearance by Mat Musto during the second verse, the song displays a variety of vocals. The highlight of the song is a bit filled with hand claps and foot stomps, in which Kirkland sings about being a “ramblin’ man.” The few seconds brings a nice change of pace making it one of the most unique songs on the album.

The album continues with “Stay,” a song that most Artist Vs Poet fans were already familiar with. Having posted the full song on YouTube a month earlier, the band hoped to gain publicity for the album before the release date. “Stay” is the perfect song to utilize in this case due to its repetitive chorus that will get stuck in your head for days. Next up, we have “Wait For You.” Though it could possibly be called the most romantic song on the record, the song should receive recognition for its flawless vocals and harmonies from Kirkland and Stevens. If fans were concerned with Kirkland and whether or not he was ready to step up to the plate as lead vocalist, they now have nothing to worry about.

“Anything At All” utilizes a fusion of guitar and piano to create a melody that efficiently highlights the high notes that make up the chorus. “Different People” comes next and seems strategically placed to change the pace of the album. With only a piano playing in the background and references of cities and zodiac signs, the song conveys an emotional message about inevitable differences in a relationship. Complete with harmonies and even a couple second group vocal section, “Let You Go” picks up the pace once again before the album ends with two of the most powerful songs from the band.

“Remember This,” the title track and my personal favorite, begins with only a piano and vocals. All the better since the lyrics are what capture the spirit of the song. While it is the longest song on the album, it never seems to linger. A guitar enters about halfway through to tell the story of a relationship from initial happiness to unexpected breakup making the song extremely relatable. The emotion that comes through in the lyrics really shines thanks to Kirkland’s vocals. Also, kudos to the guys for using the word “bitch” in the prettiest way possible.

The album ends on an inspirational note with “The Best That You Can Be.” Complete with harmonies and a piano melody, this song is perfect for those days when you need a little motivation. While the album really only utilizes a guitar, piano, and vocals, the emotion and lyrics have put Artist Vs Poet back on the map. This release clearly shows that the band is ready to make yet another mark on the music scene just with a different line up.