“Turn The Volume Down” is the latest double single by Broke Even, a South Windsor-based singer-songwriter. It’s his first work in 2024 and an adequate follow-up to “Typical Love Song,” his debut track released last year. Soundwise, Broke Even combines many different but complementary music genres to illustrate such rich and luxurious sonic imagery. You’ll immediately notice how he incorporates the singer-songwriter approach into punk rock fabric, but don’t be surprised if you stumble upon some of the finest properties borrowed from pop-punk, post-punk, and art rock. Broke Even uses all these additional elements as more than necessary enhancements, accentuations, decorations, and other details to uplift his songs on an entirely new level while keeping himself loyal to the primary sonic direction. Therefore, these experimentations with different but complementary music genres resulted in a catchy composition that will appeal to all true punk rock fans and beyond.
The title track showcases all the classic punk rock moves merged with a touch of folk punk and indie folk. The acoustic guitars truly shine in the mix, serving as a perfect backdrop for the outstanding vocal articulations. Broke Even goes far beyond classic punk rock sonic maneuvers with this one. These melodies, harmonies, and chord progressions seem far more complex than anything you ever heard in this particular or any other similar genre. The artist poured all his experience, knowledge, talent, and skills while writing, composing, and arranging these chord progressions, and you’ll solely enjoy it if you’re looking for something more than plain and simple punk rock music. Broke Even decorates all the instrumentations with his exceptional vocal performance that cleverly balances between low, mid, and high notes. These vocal articulations decorate everything Broke Even tried to convey through this track, while the politically charged lyrics add a touch of eloquence and complexity. Lyrically, “Turn The Volume Down” combines the artist’s anger and dissatisfaction with the current political climate. You’ll also notice how this track sometimes levitates towards almost anarcho punk and jazzy instrumentations, where wisely arranged keys and brass section enhance the listening experience. It’s a magnificent song, by all means.
Through the second composition, Broke Even showcases how modern pop-punk could sound fresh, unique, and innovative by implementing many complex segments and instrumentations. He thoroughly planned the entire song structure, where every section shines with intricate orchestrations and dark humor. This song goes way beyond any pop-punk song you stumbled upon before. Perhaps Broke Even takes this particular genre as a starting point, but you’ll notice many progressive art-rock, post-punk, alternative, and indie instrumentations that add more depth to the song’s core. Like on his previous track, Broke Even takes punk rock to an entirely new level by breaking all the rules and shapeshifting boundaries. From four-chord progressions and profoundly detailed rhythmic sequences to progressive keyboard leads and equally intricate basslines, “You Dying” is a comprehensive collection of wisely implemented ideas, perfectly executed instrumentations, and skillfully planned structure.
Broke Even thought about everything while assembling these two numbers, and that’s vividly hearable from scratch to finish. He pays homage to punk rock aesthetics but also thinks outside the box by introducing so many innovations into the genre. His creativity goes beyond comprehension so many times, offering an impressive listening experience. The single is available on all streaming platforms. Don’t miss it!
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