Music Review: Swim by At Face Value

Swim is the latest release from Baltimore based quintet At Face Value. Formed in 2012 by Alec Myers (vocalist) and Jeremiah Douglas (drums), At Face Value take influence from pop-punk powerhouses All Time Low, Blink-182 and Yellowcard.

Since their formation, the band has gone through a few line-up changes to become the At Face Value we know today. With two albums and six previously released singles, Swim being the seventh, the band are no strangers to the industry.

Swim although first written seven years ago still holds a lot of truth for the current day. Exploring how we as a society are often glued to our phones and the amount of media we consume, it seems like a fitting track for 2021.

Talking about how we may succumb to our vices to fit in online, Swim is a song with an important message that is carefully wrapped in an upbeat melody.

The track opens with a solo bassline which is quickly joined by preppy guitars. Already I am getting the 2000s pop-punk vibes that the band’s influences promised.

Alec has a soothing voice which leads to very dreamy verses. Lulling you into a false sense of security, the chorus comes crashing in and the energy is ramped up. His vocals have now taken on more of a gritty quality and your full attention is on the vocal line.

The bridge section of Swim is made up of pure All Time Low nostalgia. The pared-back instrumentation with the isolation vocal line acts as a great way of keeping the listener’s attention for one last chorus.

Throughout the entire track, the instrumentation is working double time. Hefty bass and pounding drums are a constant reliable source of energy and before you know it the track has ended.