Today’s Song of the Week is “Unfamiliar Sheets” from Canadian pop punk outfit Courage My Love. I have a soft spot deep in my heart for pop punk and emo music, and songs like “Unfamiliar Sheets” are exactly why. Off their first full length album, Becoming, the track is catchy, emotionally immediate, and immaculately produced. It highlights all of the best things about the oft-maligned genre while pushing against its boundaries in a way that feels both mature and organic.
It all starts with twin sisters Mercedes and Phoenix Arn-Horn —the guitarist/lead vocalist and bassist, respectively. Mercedes sounds indebted but not beholden to Paramore’s lead singer Hayley Williams, taking on the classic emo/pop punk voice affectation but giving it her own spin. There’s a consistent sweetness to her sound, even in the most intense moments. It adds a dimension to “Unfamiliar Sheets” that works well; there’s anger and catharsis in it, but Mercedes includes an equal measure of genuine regret. Phoenix, meanwhile, provides excellent backing vocals, especially the crystal clear harmonies, and anchors the group with stellar drum work.
Although Becoming is technically the band’s first full album, they’ve been working since 2009, which shows in “Unfamiliar Sheets”’s depth. They add little flourishes, especially the synth melody that pops in throughout, that show a band deeply comfortable within their genre and looking for ways to augment and expand the style. The bridge ratchets down the tension, but culminates in a shout along melody that catapults the song into the last chorus. It allows the momentum to dissipate just slightly, before taking the listener home with the fantastic refrain.
When it comes to emo or pop punk, it just doesn’t get a whole lot better than this. Courage My Love’s “Unfamiliar Sheets” is one of the standouts from their excellent Becoming and is worth a listen whether the genre is up your alley or not.
