Science Police/Zatopeks Split 7-inch (All In Vinyl, 2014)

by Mark Hughson

Music can be therapeutic. I’m pretty sure that’s a fact, or at least internet-certifiable. I’ve come to the conclusion that this is the case here, and that front man Grath Madden is self-medicating through Science Police lyrics. Inner conflicts with apathy, lethargy, and regret are all released here. Perhaps the performance is meant strictly for our entertainment. Or maybe Madden is sitting in the center on a folding chair, holding the stuffed animal that signals it is his turn to share, and we’re the circle that forms around him, listening.

What I hear is nicotine-stained pop punk. The overall tone is an ounce poppier than House Boat, but the tracks fly by so fast that it’s hard to penetrate the melody immediately. Ex-Bestie Marisa Berquist adds to the density via keyboards and vocals, and by the time we get to “I Bought Two Copies Of A Sesame Street Comic Book For Speculative Purposes” we’re wondering how we got ourselves stuck in this wonderful mess to begin with.

The Zatopeks continue to be the greatest European pop punk band hanging around today. They really brought things to the next level with their last album, and the two tracks here follow suit. Rather than relying on genre tropes or frenzied oldiescore to push the sound, the songwriting stands on strong hooks and layers of vocals, with the “classic” pop punk bounce and the ghost of Buddy Holly only here as flavors, rather than the main ingredient. They’ve really started to nail the mid-tempo stuff. The 4-minute “All My Dreams Are Borrowed” is the best thing on the whole split.

The Ep is available from All In Vinyl as a vinyl 7 inch that comes with a download code.