A lot has happened in the past six years since The Story So Far last released an album.  So much that six years sometimes feels like half a lifetime ago.  It would be understandable for pop-punk fans to move on to the next big thing in an oftentimes oversaturated genre.  I Want To Disappear is an emphatic reminder to all pop-punk fans that while they may have been gone for several years, The Story So Far is still a force to be reckoned with.  This album is one of the best pop-punk albums of the year and arguably their catchiest album since 2013’s What You Don’t See.

2018’s Proper Dose saw the band shifting away from their core pop-punk sound at times to a more indie rock/alt rock sound and it was evidenced by some of the bands they toured with during this album cycle including Movements, Citizen, and Turnover.  Lead vocalist Parker Cannon’s side project No Pressure released their self-titled debut album in 2022 and it was one of the best pop-punk albums of the year.  It seems like Cannon’s side project has rubbed off on The Story So Far as I Want To Disappear is a return to form for the band.

Opening track All This Time wastes no time kicking into gear and only takes about twenty seconds before launching into one of the catchiest choruses of the year.  The lyrics here are relatable to anyone who has ever  experienced the end of a relationship.  “So just say you want out/And we can stop all this pain now/How many seasons you’re not around?/I spread your ashes onto the ground.”  Not to be outdone by the chorus, All This Time’s bridge also happens to be extremely catchy.  “Nothing standing in my way/I think of you every day/And if there is a better way/I trust that you’ll show it to me.”  This song is on the short list of best The Story So Far songs of all time.

With barely a second to catch your breath, the band rips into the next track Watch You Go.  Similar to All This Time, this track wastes no time getting to its massive chorus.  Parker Cannon’s vocals are as good as ever and the band is clearly firing on all cylinders.  This is The Story So Far’s first album without bassist Kelen Capener and rather than bring in a new bassist from outside the band, drummer Ryan Torf pulled double duty in the studio by playing bass as well.  While a longtime member of the band is sure to be missed, Torf does an admirable job as the replacement and the band does not miss a beat.  Watch You Go is the shortest song on the album at only 2:10 and it feels like it’s over before it even started.

After the first two fast-paced songs, Letterman is a welcome change of pace.  This isn’t a slow song, but in comparison to the first two tracks it feels like it.  The verses are pretty mid-tempo, but the pace again picks up for another memorable, catchy chorus.  This song is one of the pre-release singles and one that the band has been playing live and for good reason.

It really is amazing how this album seemingly has endless hooks.  As they have shown throughout their career, The Story So Far certainly have a knack for writing catchy songs.  One of the highlights on the album is the bridge of Jump The Gun.  “So if you’re done/Then get out/Leave me on my own/I’ll figure it out.”  The backing vocals work so well, and this song is sure to be another fan favorite.

In 2023, guitarist Kevin Geyer hinted on a podcast appearance that the band was contractually obligated to release new music prior to their upcoming tour in support of blink-182.  Whether that is actually true or not, The Story So Far released the single Big Blind nearly a year ago and has been playing it live ever since.  This is the second shortest song on the album at only 2:27 and features another killer chorus.

One minor critique of I Want To Disappear is that the album may be a touch frontloaded with many of the highlights in the first half of the album.  That is certainly not meant to disparage the second half though.  Keep You Around’s chorus is massive and has the band operating more in the alt rock realm and the last forty or so seconds of You’re Still in My Way feature terrific backing vocals akin to those in Jump The Gun.  Some of these songs on the second half of the album would be other bands’ best songs – it just speaks to the strength of the first half of I Want To Disappear.

The final two tracks are when this album takes a pretty sharp left turn.  Penultimate track White Shores is the slowest song on the album up to this point and opens with acoustic guitar and terrific falsetto vocals.  It has a big climax about two-thirds of the way in before a massive, emotional bridge.  I Want To Disappear closes with its title track which is a beautiful ballad.  Some of the lyrics here are a gut punch.  “We’re gonna grow apart/And that’s just how it is” and “I’m not sure if I love you” are lines that fans will no doubt connect to. While both fantastic songs, it felt like the album could have benefited by separating these two songs in the track sequencing.  It’s just a bit jarring going from the opening eight tracks to the final two tracks.

At only ten tracks and 28 minutes long, this album is over in an instant and begs for repeated listens.  It has already been said, but it really is incredible just how many memorable moments there are on this album and how much is packed into such a short run time.  The Story So Far clearly shows on this record that they are one of the foremost bands in the pop-punk scene and that they are not going anywhere.  It’s really fitting that this comes out when it does because now we have the whole summer to listen to this gem of an album. 

Rating: 8/10

Release Date: June 21, 2024

Tracklisting:

1) All This Time

2) Watch You Go

3) Letterman

4) Jump The Gun

5) Big Blind

6) Nothing To Say

7) Keep You Around

8) You’re Still in My Way

9) White Shores

10) I Want To Disappear

Reviewed by Andrew Bachna