In a new fun twist to pop punk, We Are Scientists did a wonderful job bringing new life to the genre in their newest single, “Handshake Agreement”.

Starting with an eccentric guitar lick, the tone is quickly set as soon as the band begin their song. The vocalist sets the punk vibe wonderfully with a gritty, rough-around-the-edges delivery, much similar to talents like Luke Spiller of the Struts. As soon as the chorus kicks in, I instantly felt the nostalgia set in. The musicianship, the voice, the melodies; it all reminded me so much of early 2000s Green Day. We Are Scientists did an excellent job capturing that same energy Green Day had perfected back in the day – and that energy is especially felt in the last chorus that closes the song when the song reaches its absolute peak. The second half of the chorus is especially gripping, following suite with the first half but introducing more somber harmony that closes it out very elegantly. The harmonies are on point throughout the entire song, though they’re definitely more prominent in the choruses. Regardless, they beautifully encapsulate that pop punk sound we all know so well. Structurally, the song feels like an ever-rising journey, and ends as it reaches its peak, leaving the vocalist to trail off alone in its final second. We Are Scientists couldn’t have ended the song better than they did.

“Handshake Agreement” is a window into both the past and the future of pop/post punk. Though the nostalgia is felt, the sense of innovation and originality keep the mix fresh. It’s produced wonderfully, with every moving part of this song sounding ever-so clear and concise. It’s a wonderful song to release in the summer; I truly hope that people will take advantage of this gift from We Are Scientists to blast this tune by the poolside, the best way to enjoy it, of course.

Author: Nicholas Gaudet

Music producer and writer from Dieppe, Canada.