Album Review: Avoid One Thing – Right Here Where You Left Me

“Right Here Where You Left Me” is an appropriate album title given that Avoid One Thing appear to have picked up exactly where they left off fifteen years ago when they released their sophomore album “Chopstick Bridge“. The band might have moved on from their former home of Side One Dummy Records to The Mighty Mighty Bosstones own imprint Big Rig Records, but many things remain true to the bands roots. Bosstone’s bassist and founder member Joe Gittlemen is of course present along with original members Paul Delano and Amy Griffin and drummer John Lynch, who played on “Chopstick Bridge“. The long standing quartet are joined by Tim Brennan of Dropkick Murphys and Dave Minehan of The Neighborhoods to keep this album a truly Bostonian affair.

The album’s title track launches you into “Right Here Where You Left Me” with a hit of anthems punk rock topped off with Joe Gittleman‘s trademark rasping vocals, this is followed by a duo of nostalgic hits in the shape of the yearning “Crashing Kites” and the almost melancholy “Disassembly Line“. “All The Same To Me” builds towards an anthemic chorus and possesses all the hallmarks of classic Avoid One Thing, something that means it stands alongside their best known song “Lean On Sheena“, every track contains that familiar hit, from the acoustic “Shutting Down The Radar” and “Where We End Our Days” through the the laid back “Fresh Pond Parkway” and “A Million Maids” to the upbeat “Solitary Man” and “Better Left Alone“

Even though this is shorn of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones ska influence it’s clear that Joe Gittleman has a significant hand in their songwriting making this an album that is instantly familiar but yet manages to stand alone. This kind of contradiction defines “Right Here Where You Left Me“, this is an album that feels laid back despite having the energy and decibels and you could argue that Avoid One Thing have produced an album that would make perfect sense had it been released over a decade ago, but it’s also perfect for right here and right now.

“Right Here Where You Left Me” can be ordered on limited run ‘sea blue’ vinyl here

Avoid One Thing can be found on Facebook here