My introduction to the Parasites came a couple of years ago with the song "Young and Stupid." I got this new CD from Go-Kart Records, and I was happily surprised with it. This guy has a much better voice than on "Young and Stupid," and the music is cool pop punk, sometimes a little quicker and heavier. The lyrics are awesome - I'll mention those more below:

"Sunnyside" starts the album with a good message about looking at the positive in life. "You told me something special, it'll stick with me for life. Do yourself a favor, take your own advice, you told me 'Walk on the sunny side of the street.'"

A lot of the album has the guy-chasing-girl theme, but he seems like a sweet guy. In "Hang Up" he meets her at a show and is pursuing her, despite that she's with someone else. "Notes To You" has our guy chasing a probably unobtainable girl. Everyone tells him to give up already, but he thinks maybe sending just one more note - to remind her how he feels - might make a difference.

"Run Away" finds our guy in a broken relationship. They've gone their separate ways now, but he realized that it never would have worked out between them. "Hard To Find" is an excellent song! The guy is sitting in his room alone, trying to figure things out. He realizes he should really be out there, doing something, but ... Has a cool brief little guitar solo and a group chorus. The beginning even almost sounded like a less than jake tune! Candidate for favorite song here.

In "Telling Lies," we see our guy wanting the girl to stay with him (and to want to stay with him), but he's also afraid he'll drag her down with him. "I'll see you again, and I will start to shake, and then my head'll pound 'till I break down, and I'll have to apologize. I'll tell myself a lie, say I don't need you here."

Closing the album (well, right before the snoring & short hidden track) is the surprising guitar ballad "Carve Your Initials." It's a contrast - musically - to the rest of the album, but it's really a good song, both musically and lyrically. "I've been waiting for a long, long time, and feeling worse than I could feel. Always the wrong place at the wrong time, but this time I know that it's for real. When we talk, I don't know what to say, but I think that I will feel okay if I carve your initials in my heart." What a guy :).

Check this band out - they're on tour now. Go to Go-Kart's page for info on them and the tour (and other cool bands!)

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