I felt like I was enjoying- enjoying for the first time- classical music when I heard the opening of “Convocation.”

Nope, this isn’t a Mozart masterpiece. Yellowcard surprisingly decided to start off their latest album, Lift a Sail¸ with a short classical instrumental piece. They took a chance and it seems to have paid off.

The result is actually beautiful.

The mellow piece somehow seamlessly transformed into a stereotypical Yellowcard sound. “Transmission Home” brings the band back to their punk roots. This latter punk part is equal in greatness to the classical beginnings, showcasing just how much the band has the potential to offer.

“One Bedroom” is an absolutely wonderful beat. The steadiness of the song breaks up the complication of the other songs a bit. The lyrics are a bit like a stereotypical love song, but I am somehow okay with this. The repetition got me so caught up in the song that I ended up feeling instead of listening with precision.

“The Deepest Well” (feat. Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire) is actually the only track on the album that sounded like the Yellowcard I remember. While the purpose of the album was to try something different, it was nice to see something that sounded like their earlier music. It is always good to come back home.

“M&K” is an interesting mesh of classical and punk rock. The background instrumentals are absolutely beautiful. The light fluttering somehow complements the words perfectly. Warning: this song will consume you.

“California” lays just a bit boring. While it is relatable to college students, about long distance relationships, the relatability irks me. With this song, Yellowcard brings nothing new to the scene.
Overall, this album has some stand out tracks. However, the majority of the album is a little lackluster.