Smooth Sailing For The Submarines

Everyone has heard the claim that music brings people together. There is no greater example of this than The Submarines’ Declare A New State. The story of musicians John Dragonetti and Blake Hazard is a familiar one. Boy meets girl; boy gets girl; boy and girl are happily in love till one day they breakup. But in the case of these musicians, both dealt with the separation by writing songs. The collection reunited the two and became their first album together as a band. The style of Declare A New State immediately reveals itself with “Peace and Hate.” The drum machine and piano under Dragonetti’s quiet voice sounds almost parallel to the band The Postal Service. As Dragonetti and Hazard sing the chorus, they explain the entire theme of the album. “I should be gone castaway / But still I love you through all peace and hate.”

The rest of the Declare A New State reflects the journey that brought Dragonetti and Hazard back together. Each have their own songs explaining their perspective. His songs, like “Vote” and “Hope,” are mirror images of her lonely pondering in “Clouds” and “Brighter Discontent.” These slower ballads decrease the electronic stronghold on the album and bring out a simpler, singer; songwriter feel.

Declare A New State is the candy-coated version of a breakup with its overtly sweet words and melodies. Though one can get lost in all the therapeutic self-searching, The Submarines stay afloat through the clever combination of Hazard’s folk qualities and Dragonetti’s genius in the electronic blending of many instruments. Declare a New State foreshadows a bright future for The Submarines as both a married couple and music duo.