Music is always moving into new, exciting directions. This year, it seems like electronics/dubstep/house is seeping through the underground scene and is now breaking out into popular music (even if we like it or not).

In some cases, taking giant steps back can make an amazing difference in what you are bringing to the table. Take the 20 year old Christopher Drew, for example. The Joplin, Missouri native first stepped onto the scene under the name Never Shout Never, which consisted of just him and his ukulele, touring all over the country and singing love songs to his tween fans. Then, his first true album Harmony was released, which both combined his typical NSN sound (look for songs like CheaterCheaterBestFriendEater for an example), with some moments of maturity peeking through its seems. Now, Never Shout Never is a fully fleshed out quartet, and their new album Time Travel couldn’t sound any better.

Time Travel starts with it’s namesake, a trancy story-based song, which sounds like it was traced with “acid and MDMA.” “Awful” is what I’d call the “throwback” song on the album; it could easily fit with any other of NSN’s albums. “Silver Ecstasy” is a giant power ballad, with lyrics that describe long lost loves and heartbreak. “Simplistic Trance-Like Getaway” is a pop song at it’s core, almost recognizable to some tracks on Harmony. My personal favorite, the final track “Lost At Sea,” is a bombastic goodbye, with a powerful chorus that will be chanted when played at their concerts. The album feels fluid; going from one track to another sounds perfect (even if you skip around).

This is not the Never Shout Never that I once new. I know it’s them (Christopher Drew’s voice is still incredibly recognizable), but the textures and sounds that they put into Time Travel sounds like a mix of both Styx and Queen (I know I’m going to get some heat for that, but I don’t really care). NSN made an album full of fully fleshed-out anthems, mixed with textures and moments that’ll make any passive music listener to open up their ears.

To clarify, I’m not saying that Never Shout Never is up to or better than Styx or Queen (especially Queen), but for this day and age, it’s almost unheard of for a band to sound this different. And in this case, different is great.

Is there a problem with Time Travel? Yes, and it’s a big one. The LP only eight songs long, unless you by the deluxe edition which comes with two acoustic tracks and a remix. For a band that now produces their own tracks, I almost assumed that Time Travel was going to be this grand, extravagant album that would be able to stand up to present itself as one of the best of the year. It might still be extravagant, but it is by no means long (it’s only about 32 minutes long).

I was never a big Never Shout Never fan pre Time Travel. I thought that Christopher Drew was a one trick pony when it comes to his first project (he also does dubstep under the name GONZO, and has a rock act eatmewhileimhot!). Thankfully, Time Travel has changed my perception, as this acid trip down memory lane has stuck itself in my head more than any ukulele song Drew could ever sing. I’m incredibly excited for what Never Shout Never has up their sleeves for a follow-up. Hopefully, it’s something like this.

Final Grade: A-

Go Download: “Time Travel,” “Lost At Sea”

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