They say good things come to those who wait. Richmond, Virginia rock quartet Telltale’s self titled debut album, due May 17th on Rude Records, proves that statement to be true. Coming 7 years after the release of the first of a string of EPs, Good Intentions, Telltale has created a beautiful pop-punk album, filled with gorgeous melodies, hard hitting drums & some of the cleanest vocals in recent memory. Lead singer John Carteret’s powerful voice & introspective lyrics beg to be sung along with at full volume. 

What really stands out on this record, is how well the songs are written. Creating extremely catchy rock songs, while maintaining artistic integrity, is a delicate balance for any band, especially on one’s debut record. While the subject matter lyrically, can be at times morose, with topics of depression and self-doubt throughout, musically it’s aggressive and lively. As much therapy for the listener as for the band themselves, Telltale opens with w2b, an uplifting jam where you envision Carteret singing to himself in the mirror “I want to be kind/I want to have heart/I want to see bright in a little less dark /I want to be real/I want a fresh start/I want to wake up in the morning and not feel like falling apart” 

Telltale creates their unique sound by blending many different influences, yet not copying any one specific band or genre. At times you can hear a little Linkin Park, the Foo Fighters or even Blink 182, yet one could also draw some comparisons to newer artists like nothing,nowhere. The latter can most definitely be heard on their latest single, kissinginacarcrash. The opening riff and soul-crushing drums are right out of Joe Mulherin’s playbook. This carries straight into the Edgar Allen Poe inspired EDDY, which is pure post hardcore with a little rap thrown in for good measure: “Young Eddy A singing “nevermore”/Go fuck yourself you ain’t my Lenore no more/I’m still the same sad kid with a telltale heart/It comes out when I’m facedown on the cold hard floor/But I don’t want to be a letdown anymore.” Poe did live in the band’s hometown of Richmond, VA, where his museum still exists today, so it’s easy to see how Telltale was inspired by the master writer and poet. 

Though most of the album can be described as pretty rock-centric, the record’s incredible closing track is anything but. Not The Type starts off with an intro that’s reminiscent of the Prince classic, Little Red Corvette, which lets you know it’s a club banger. With its infectious melody, it’s by far the most playful song on the record, guaranteed to get stuck in your head for days.  

While the songwriting and vocals grab the listener right away, it’s the rest of the band’s technical prowess that give the album its character and replayability. Each time you listen, you hear something you missed previously. While reviewing Telltale, I found myself constantly playing it on repeat. The 10 tracks coming in at just under 30 minutes, if I have one complaint, is that it’s a little too short. I want more, which is a good thing. Hopefully they release a Deluxe Edition with bonus tracks down the line. 

I am very excited to see what the future has in store for Telltale. If the album’s energy is any indication of what to expect at a show, this is a band I am extremely interested in seeing live. While it took quite a while to get here, in taking their time to hone their craft through the pandemic and the years that have followed, the band has made a tremendous debut record that is sure to get a lot of buzz and airplay.  Accessible enough for rock radio, there’s still enough depth for any fan of pop-punk, from the casual to the diehard. 

Score 8.2/10

Release Date 5/17/24

Track List:

w2b

Otherside 

Cardinals

kissinginacarcrash

EDDY

Gettin’ Sober

MONSTER

Take Your Time

I’ve Given More To A Lesser God

Not The Type

Reviewed by Jeremy Schmidt