“sometimes i wanna, i wanna blow up everything”

— i want my money back

tom hanks stars in the money pit, a movie about a couple struggling to repair an old house. nic newsham and bobby darling star in the money pit, an album about a couple successfully repairing an old band. they're not looking to dwell on the past and neither should any listeners. we're all met with various staple gatsbys american dream stylings (staccato guitar riffs, sultry crooning, tasteful drumming), but they're done in a way that feels fresh and forward thinking.

the melodies on nearly every track feel so effortless and easy-going. it's hard not to get lost and vibe out and it would be wrong to fight that feeling. that's what the album feels like, a respite from all that is hectic in the world. for a solid 30 minutes, you don't have to care about a thing but your own enjoyment for once. follow the drums through a simple journey with complex accents. follow the bass lines to your soul and feel the grooves. fly away and hover low with the vocal tones. return home once it clicks and all elements work together.

it's easy to get hooked on old memories of the house you've known for years, especially when no one was living in it. the house never really became dilapidated, either. the money pit isn't entirely a money pit when all it really took was a new coat of paint to make it all pop.

top 3 + bottom none: i want my money back, killing time in hawaii, devastator

guest review by @internaldivide

The Money Pit is the return of two greats within the indie/alternative scene, Nic Newsham and Bobby Darling. This is their first musical venture together since Gatsbys American Dream's self-titled album in 2006. With this album, they show that they haven't lost a single step along the way.

One thing to be noted is that this is NOT a Gatsbys American Dream album and it should not be treated as such. It's a completely separate entity. At the same time, fans of Gatsbys American Dream can find familiarity in The Money Pit through the stacatto riffs and accidentals used on guitar, the smooth vocals, the hard-hitting drums, and the punchy bass. And that's where the comparison ends.

The Money Pit's self-titled album is one of those albums where one can completely vibe out with for its duration. I found myself engrossed as one song lead effortlessly into the next. The lyrics gets you thinking, chuckling, and feeling introspective. The music backs that up with plenty of variety and stylings where each song separates itself from the one before it, yet being cohesive overall.

Being one of my personal AOTY contenders, it makes me estatic to see these two back into making music again. Gatsbys American Dream's music has had a huge influence on the music that I aspire to make. It's the culmination of some of my previous muscial interests, one being pop-punk, and my current interests in progressive and experimental. Their music not only was something to jam to, but like a musical adventure with twists and turns as rhythms and time signatures changed throughout. It helped me become more analytical in all of the music I've come to listen to. I can't help myself in pointing out to others "hey this song is in 5/4 it's so interesting right?" as they roll their eyes. What they made in the past is something I truly have an appreciation for and I greatly look forward to what they have in store for the future.

top 3 + bottom none: I Want My Money Back, Control Everything, Blackout

score: 94

score: 93

album digitally available sept. 4th.
pre-orders available at their website.
follow them on twitter @moneypitmusic.
download 4 tracks from the album below.

<a href="http://themoneypit.bandcamp.com/album/from-self-titled">from Self-Titled by The Money Pit</a>

score: 90