Review / 200 Words Or Less
Frozen Teens
Oakland Footsteps

Frozen Teens are tough sound to pin down exactly. It’s not because it’s 100% out there, it’s because it subtly pulls from different arenas, coming together in something of a power-pop/punk. The Minneapolis trio are releasing a 7”, Oakland Footsteps, here, and it’s a solid release through and through. It starts with the 3:10 “Oakland,” which covers way more ground than its three-minutes should allow, burning through faster movements, slowing up and building back to speed, and feeling far more complete and complex than it’s pop-template box would indicate. Permeating that mix is another delicate balance between sloppy enthusiasm and precise musicality. It falls more on the sloppy side, but it almost feels insulting to say as much—it’s still a tightly composed package and some fine timekeeping from the drums.

B-side “Footsteps” takes a slower approach, utilizing a minimal guitar intro, plodding bassline and some shouted vocals, pushing their way down a dark tunnel and seeking a light. At times that light shines through, but it’s mostly a few bursts at a time without jumping into the full-on assault that “Oakland” brings. It’s tempered and well-paced, mixing in energy to move the song forward without relying on speed or aggression to express the point.