NO DREAM // Jeff Rosenstock – Kai-Ming Chow
Released: 20 May 2020
There’s only one word that comes to mind when I think of Jeff Rosenstock’s NO DREAM: urgency. The cathartic release that’s unleashed in this 40-minute rush of an album has been the most engaging listening experience I’ve had in 2020. Punk is at its best when it gives light to real-world issues with a mix of passion and aggression that immediately connects with the listener, and Jeff manages to keep the momentum going throughout the album with accessible compositions, energetic performances, and self-aware lyrics that are sure to resonate with anyone with a heartbeat.
But what amazes me is just how catchy these songs are, and much like his acclaimed WORRY. LP, the tracks flow in a way that would be impossible to imagine them being sequenced differently. Virtually any song on the album can be described as an anthem for those who’ve been frustrated by the current state of the world: perhaps the atrocities committed under the Trump administration, or for anyone who’s been struggling with mental health and a feeling of helplessness in their isolated cocoon. 2020 has been a rough year for all of us, and NO DREAM served as the perfect companion piece for these trying times.