This album was released on May 10^th, 2019 on Hopeless Records.

I got into The Wonder Years when Sister Cities came out. That’s a lot of material to catch up to, and I am well aware that I was late to the wondrous imagery that Dan “Soupy” Campbell can portray through his words. When I learned that he had a solo project as well, I knew I had to check it out. There’s a reason I place Campbell within my top five lyricists in the pop-punk genre (he quite possibly sits at the top), and he solidifies that spot on the pedestal with his work in his side-project. A blend of folk rock and Americana, complete with woefully poignant lyrics, Routine Maintenance is one of the better albums that I have heard in quite a while.

Right from the start, “Lead Paint & Salt Air” carries that signature Aaron West sound, even referencing Springsteen, whose influence you can hear pretty clearly. Campbell’s knack for writing toned-down verses only to explode into enormous choruses is also evident here, and was evident on Sister Cities as well. It was a topic of debate for his band’s progression into a more alternative rock / emo sound that this writing style was used too much on every song, but it’s a great way for Campbell’s emotion to bleed onto the chords.

The singles that were put out before the album’s release (“Runnin’ Toward the Light”, “Just Sign the Papers”, “Bury Me Anywhere Else”) were great indicators of what the album’s sound was as a whole. Despite me saying that, this doesn’t mean that the album is predictable. Incorporating horns added a completely different dimension to the instrumentals behind Campbell’s raw voice and opened the rest of the album to expand upon that soundscape. “Rosa & Reseda” is a nice and upbeat composition (contradictory to the lyrics of the song, which are heartbreaking) that launches into “Wildflower Honey”, which is a completely different tone than its predecessor, then it picks right back up into “Runnin’ Toward the Light”, another upbeat and lively song.

The emotional rollercoaster that Campbell and Routine Maintenance takes the listener on is heart-wrenching, agonizing, and frankly, should probably leave some listeners in tears due to its relatability. Sonically, it’s an expected progression from Campbell’s writing on Sister Cities, and the story that he paints through his lyrics is just as real as ever. Even though there’s a looming sense of lowness on the album, there’s a certain charisma in this project, one that gives us a view of hope from being rock bottom. Maybe it’s the Americana sound, a genre that we have heard all too many times by musical legends like Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen. Maybe it’s because Campbell can paint a picture through his words that shows we aren’t so different after all. Whatever the notion is, Aaron West’s second album is able to show an extensive amount of heart and soul.

Rating: 9/10

Favorite Songs: “Bloodied Up in a Bar Fight”, “Rosa & Reseda”, “Runnin’ Toward the Light”