Transit – Something Left Behind (Rise Records, 2011)

by Dave Sharp on Mar 04^th, 2011

Very few bands take on the challenge of acoustic albums.  The daunting task of stripping everything you’ve written and reforming songs from scratch to change not only your sound, but your entire genre is a horrifying yet rewarding effort.  Thus is the case with the new album entitled Something Left Behind by Transit.

Transit is a Boston five-piece, that can regularly be found tearing apart local venues across the east coast.  Their punk rock/hardcore sound has created a fan base not only throughout the U.S., but spanning the entire globe as well.  With five albums in hand, (the latest Keep This To Yourself released this past August) taking on a new album you think would be a drop in the bucket; their fans, eager for more, are wondering what the band will think of next and hoping for the best.

Well fans, here is the curveball…an unplugged album.

Putting away the amps and bringing out the acoustic guitars, Transit reshapes some fan favorites for a new outlook on their songs.

Revamping songs like “Stay Home,” “For the World,” and “1978,” the band sets out to build to their already growing fan base.

The nine-track EP, mirroring the likings of Jacks Mannequin, Rookie of the Year, and Dashboard Confessional, focusses more on the emotion and vocal work of the songs rather than the punch lines.  Smooth guitar work and inspiration-fed vocals are the silver lining of the album.  Reconstructed to make every turn and transition flow like water, the band leaves the impression that they have been doing this type of album for years.

A major highlight song on the album would have to be “For the World.”

Mimicking the sounds of Saves The Day, this simply-cut upbeat track is full of passionate vocals and suave guitar parts that seem to mesh into a catchy orchestration of emotion and inspiration.  “Stay Home,” the fan favorite, doesn’t seem to fall short either.  The infamous bridge and ending, usually chanted by adoring fans that have made their way to the stage, is precisely  executed in a way that only its creators could pull off.

Overall, Something Left Behind seems to be stacked with all the of the emotion that the band usually carries.  However, having rejuvenated their songs in the most basic fashion, a new light is brought to the band.  This album not only shows the bands talent in its most simplistic form, but also exemplifies their creativity and broad array of musicianship.  With tour dates spanning the country this month, Transit is definitely worth the price of admission.  Even if they were to misplace their amps.

Reviewer: Matt Willers