The Wonder Years - Sisters Cities Album Review

Review by Karyssa Leigh

It’s 2018 and The Wonder Years are still coming out swinging. Since The Greatest Generation these
musicians have tried a slightly new sound with every album, taking on different concepts and pretty
heavy writing material. The Greatest Generation being about growing up and watching the people your
age go further in life, No Closer To Heaven tackling immigration, racism, drug addiction, abuse, and
mental illness; and now Sister Cities. An album tackling what it’s like to be lost and trying to find your
way out of the dark, set to release April 6th , 2018.

I’m not going to bother going song by song, because there isn’t a single bad song on this record.
However, I’m rather going to discuss elements of this release; first and foremost, the imagery. Every
song on this offers a specific imagery to it. So much so that you can put yourself in a setting to hear, see,
smell, and taste everything you could if you were there. The lyrics have an impact on your senses, your
memories, your nostalgia, your emotions, and makes you long for times you didn’t even have. It
provides memories you never experienced but feels like you did by how clear Dan Campbell sings about
them.

The music has also evolved. Taking a trip back in time to The Upsides, then back to Sister Cities, you
recognize a stronger, more mature sound. You recognize more reverb, more overdrive, and more
creative riffs. You can recognize a different tuning, more similar to No Closer To Heaven. There is no
doubt that even lyrics aside, this band is nothing short or talented. These people are incredible
musicians and it shows.

This album gives you hope, gives you goosebumps, will make you cry, and make you long for a breath of
fresh air. This album encapsulates the feeling of needing to pack your bags and leave to go out and find
yourself. This album sparks inspiration and motivation. This is the album every music fan needed, and
didn’t know they did.