By Abigail Connolly

For those Spotify users who saw “Midwest Emo” in their top genres, “Sweet Tooth,” the third studio album from Mom Jeans, needs to be added into the rotation.

The SoCal band began out of UC Berkeley in early 2014, with guitarist Austin Carango and lead singer Eric Butler teaming up to record and produce their first EP. Following the success of that recording, Mom Jeans signed with Counter Intuitive Records to release their first studio album, “Best Buds,” in late 2016. The band’s sophomore album, “Puppy Love,” was released in 2018. The band continued to gain notoriety for partnering with other alternative rock bands, such as Albany-based,  Prince Daddy & The Hyena (“***HIDDEN TRACK***”) and Fresno band, Graduating Life (“couldn’t think of a name”). 

While previous albums relied heavily on an acoustic, emo sound, “Sweet Tooth” is more reminiscent of early 2000s punk and emo. The lyricism and unique sound elements that Mom Jeans has mastered from the beginning, remain as strong as ever. “Sweet Tooth” represents  a new era for the band as they ditch the acoustically emphasized sounds for a more electronic sound. The 13 track album stays in line with the band’s seemingly random naming style featuring songs like “Hippo In The Water,” “White Trash Millionaire,” “Anime Theme Song” and “Tie Dye Acid Trip.”

One of the greatest examples of how Mom Jeans has evolved is in “Crybaby (On the Phone),” one of the album’s singles. The song begins with the acoustic sound we are used to hearing from the band, but quickly devolves into the heavier, more produced sound, the perfect combination of old and new sounds. There is something about the way Mom Jeans juxtaposes generic lines like, “We had it all but you turned and ran/And I’ll never understand/ Why you do this to me/ you really messed me up” followed immediately by ultra specific and out of the ordinary lines like “I’ll put all my stuff in the back/ Of Brandon’s 2011 Toyota RAV4.” It is just the right amount of personal and impersonal that makes listeners want to hear more of the artists’ story. 

Other standout songs on the album include “Luv L8r,” which incorporates a different lyrical and instrumental style from the group. Again the song goes back to some of the group’s acoustic roots, the gravely, melancholy vocals Butler has mastered opens the song. The quick build up and crescendo to the softer, more pleading chorus, emphasizes Buter’s vocal ability. The bridge is perhaps the most standout portion of the song, featuring a spoken-word cadence, again with strong lyrics that have a knack for tugging at heartstrings,  “I’ve been stuck inside of a constant turmoil/ Ultimately manifesting itself in the catastrophic breakdown that occurred between you and me…”

This album did not disappoint. The four years between albums had fans anxiously waiting for content. Mom Jeans did not fail to deliver quality content. Those who were looking for something new from the group will be content with the newer production elements, while those still looking for the sounds of “Best Buds” and “Puppy Love” will still hear their share. The album presents a clear, cohesive track list, ultimately serving as the perfect return for the band. 

Image from Mom Jeans via YouTube