The roaring violin intertwining with guitar on the opening track of Yellowcard’s latest album, When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes, was the first inclination to me that this band is most definitely back.
After not working together for two years, Yellowcard (Ryan Key, Sean Mackin, Ryan Mendez, Sean O’Donnell, and Longineu Parsons II) connected with each other via email to exchange demos and song ideas, as going to each other’s homes in Seattle, Los Angeles, and Phoenix to hammer out ideas for their seventh album. 
“There’s a really fresh energy to it,” lead singer Ryan Key said in a press release. “We didn’t feel like we had to top something we’d already accomplished; it was almost like writing our first record again.”
Violinist Sean Mackin shares Key's sentiment stating, "I feel like we're doing it again for the first time. Everyone is so happy to do this. We remember why we do this and it feels incredible. Yellowcard has always been about good friends enjoying music together."
After my first listen of When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes, I felt that the band really just knocked this album out of the park. Everything about the 10-track collection of music was on point. Key’s vocals are stronger and more emotive than ever, the song arrangements are fantastic, and the lyrical content of the songs reveal how this band has grown as not just artists, but as individuals.
What I really appreciate about this album, is how smart the band has been with their choice of singles. After listening through the album in it’s entirety, I feel like “For You, And Your Denial” was the smart choice for the lead single. The music hooks you instantly and is reminiscent of the sound that made people take notice of the Ocean Avenue album.
“Hang You Up,” I feel is more driven by the lyrics. It’s very much a reflective song, and reveals a more mature side of Yellowcard. It’s a song that the audience will listen to and be able to relate the lyrics to their own lives. It’s the contrast between both of these songs that show a musically well-rounded band.
Article comments
1 - Bill K.
Great album but isn't this their 7th album? The first three weren't big but the fourth was Ocean Avenue.