Lift a Sail

Lyricist: Ryan Key.
Personnel: Diana Wade (viola); Joanna Whang (cello); Ryan Key (piano, percussion, programming); Sean Mackin (piano); Ryan Mendez (bass guitar, percussion); Nate Young (drums, programming); Neal Avron (programming).
Audio Mixer: Neal Avron.
Recording information: East West Studios; The Casita.
The ninth long-player from the pioneering pop-punk outfit, Lift A Sail finds Yellowcard doing what they do best, offering up tightly rendered, hooky, melodic rock anthems that are as emotionally charged as they are accessible. Their first album to feature Nate Young from Anberlin on drums (Longineu Parsons III left the band shortly before recording began to pursue other musical interests), the 13-track set adds some relatively subtle flourishes of electronics to the mix while dialing back a little on Sean Mackin's signature violin playing, but fans looking to conjure up some nostalgia for the band's Ocean Avenue heyday will find what they're looking for on standout cuts like the catchy and propulsive "Make Me So," the big-hearted "Transmission Home," and rousing "Deepest Well," the latter of which features a guest vocal from Memphis May Fire frontman Matty Mullins. ~ James Christopher Monger