Picture California, what do you see? Mountains, beaches, or maybe the beautiful oceans that line the coast? No matter what you see, it’s probably akin to the feeling of listening to The Story So Far. Mellow grooves mixed with perfect bursts of energy all blended together to make a band that perfectly encapsulates their home state. Hailing from Walnut Creek, California, the influence is obvious and bleeds deep into the sound of The Story So Far. The latest release from the group comes with much anticipation with their last full-length project released in 2018. That being said, the group doesn’t rush and is sure to always deliver a product held to their high standards, and “Letterman” is sure to impress fans of old and listeners just hearing of the pop-punk legends.

Smooth is how The Story So Far opens, just a simple drum beat and a crystal clear guitar riff played softly that is calling for the rest of the band to join in. The first to join is lead singer Parker Cannon, who smoothly enters:

“Look behind me then you’ll understand /

I’m not hiding any other man /

To be honest I don’t understand /

How you spin me like a ceiling fan /

(Just like a ceiling fan).”

There is no downtime as the band transitions to the chorus, intensifying themselves, taking away the mellow energy and infusing the track with the needed emotion to bring things together, singing:

“There’s no point in making nice /

I know the price /

‘Cause I know all about the down and out, I get it /

‘Cause even if I close my eyes and fantasize /

It’s never gonna help me admit that you’re gone and to just accept it.”

Just as soon as the fire gets going, it is quickly extinguished with the band swiftly leading listeners into the next verse. The calming instrumentals ensue as we hear:

“Wear your pride just like a letterman (Just like a lettеrman) /

Wrap me tight, I’m your rubber band, man (I’m your rubber band, man) /

I won’t try you еven though I can (Even though I can) /

Slide on by without a second glance (Without a second glance).”

Following the verse, the chorus repeats, but afterwards, we are greeted by a bridge that’s the highlight of the song, fueling the fire created by the verse as The Story So Far with Parker Cannon pour their hearts out:

“So don’t think that I’m excited at all /

And you know that I’ve been dying to call /

But I can’t get involved /

I don’t wanna be here at all (Don’t wanna be here at all) /

Do you notice at all?”

 Just to get the point across to their lost love again, the band repeats the second verse just before pounding the final chorus straight at us:

“There’s no point in making nice /

I know the price /

‘Cause I know all about the down and out, I get it /

‘Cause even if I close my eyes and fantasize /

It’s never gonna help me admit that you’re gone and to just accept it /

(I know that you’re gone and I can’t forget it) /

Admit that you’re gone and just accept it.”

All together, we are at a glance provided with a somber ballad to a lost love. It’s on par with the topic of a lot of The Story So Fars’ past work but delivered in a different fashion. So often the band looks to let everything out, unleashing everything they have and wearing their hearts on their sleeves. This song seems to stray away from their normal formula and shows the maturity and development of the group as people and musicians, which culminates into a song that arrives just in time for listeners to enjoy as we cruise down the streets, windows rolled and scream along.