NOAHFINNCE - MY BRAIN AFTER THERAPY
With his brilliant sophomore EP My Brain After Therapy, released under Hopeless Records, NOAHFINNCE – real name Noah Adams – firmly establishes his place in the pop punk scene.
Over six songs, he combines a refreshing honesty and vulnerability surrounding the topics of mental health, therapy and the effects of childhood trauma with a mix of classic pop punk and more mature, darker takes on his earlier material. Without making light of the topic, he manages to include hopeful notes and humorous takes on his situation, keeping the songs from becoming bleak.
The EP kicks off with ‘Worms (In My Brain)’, a catchy, bright pop punk song. It opens with just guitar and vocals, ramping up into an upbeat chorus that will get stuck in your head for days. In contrast to its happy sound, it introduces one of the key topics of the EP, using the metaphor of ‘worms in your brain’ to illustrate the effect of childhood trauma, especially over prolonged periods of time.
Another aspect of struggling with mental health is centred in I Just Won’t Care, which focuses on experiencing apathy towards a worsening situation and losing the energy to care about your problems: “overworked, overwhelmed, over everything”. It sticks to the pop punk sound but brings in a heavier twist, a style mirrored on Better Days, the third song on the EP. It also expresses some of the same sentiments, wishing for a better future but feeling tired of trying to get there.
This stands in stark contrast to the follow-up, Chasing Daylight. One of NOAHFINNCE’s most vulnerable songs on this EP, it describes dealing with loneliness and chasing after brighter days. Stylistically, it’s the most similar to his debut song, Asthma Attack, opening with soft vocals and a melody played on guitar. This unique take on a ballad is followed by another standout track, Tell Me That You’re Okay. This time showcasing a darker, more intense spin on his previous releases, NOAHFINNCE discusses emotional co-dependency and valuing other peoples’ emotions above your own. It showcases his song writing and talent for lyrics, adding another style to his repertoire.
The EP closes on an upbeat pop-rock note with After Therapy, featuring Chris Freeman of Hot Mulligan. Another personal standout, it chronicles the experience of starting therapy and gaining more insight into your own behaviour and emotions, but not being able to heal despite this new understanding. While it’s a bit of a cynical take on therapy – “Take my money, at least I'll get a little clarity / About how fucked I am” – it’s a sentiment most people can relate to. Returning to catchy pop punk also feels like a circular moment, bringing the EP perfectly back to where it started.
With My Brain After Therapy, NOAHFINNCE does an amazing job at defining a clearer instrumental and lyrical style for himself. It’s exactly what you need to make you realise you’re not alone in your issues, and you catch yourself singing his songs for days after hearing them.
Astrid Kutos
★★★★☆