The Red Pears, formed in 2014, are self-described as an indie / alternative band. The band includes Henry Vargas (guitar and vocals), Jose Corona (drums), and Patrick Juarez (bass). Vargas and Corona met while in high school and performed as a duo before welcoming Juarez to the band in 2017. During this time, The Red Pears have released multiple studio albums, drawing inspiration from early indie rock bands, as well as the classic rock, metal, and Spanish music they grew up listening to in Southern California. In April of this year, The Red Pears released their fourth studio album titled, Better Late Than Never. This album simultaneously continues to lean into the classic indie rock sound found in their previous albums all while also highlighting the band’s growth in production and lyricism.
The title track serves as an intro to the Better Late Than Never album. At just over 30 seconds long, it allows listeners a preview to the albums unifying musical theme. It then transitions into “Didn’t Realize.” This song starts off with an intriguing instrumental hook that carries through the song. This track feels very reminiscent of early 2000s indie rock, a statement that also applies to the rest of the songs on the tracklist.
The third track, titled “The Way You Talk,” has deep basslines compounded with a strong groove that easily makes it a stand out on the album. The next track, “See What I Mean,” follows in a similar vein. The lyrics on this song take a contemplative turn, “Now you know the truth in question / Will this be a harder lesson?/ To forgive all those who messed with / Anger never was the method.” The words “alright” and “okay” are frequently used throughout this track, making for a smooth transition into the interlude that directly follows called “It’s Alright.”
The vocals are strong throughout the course of the album, but Vargas is particularly compelling on “Tired.” Singing lyrics like, “I am finding my way / But forever losing pace / Cause I’m going my way / And I’m winning this race / But I know that you know / That you weren’t so true.” This song explores the feeling of simply no longer enjoy being with someone and the detail of how every small thing becomes frustrating, but at the same time, it is impossible to remove them from thoughts and memories after the fact. The album closes out with “Once Together.”
Overall, The Red Pears’s fourth studio album Better Late Than Never feels like the band at their most authentic. The Red Pears are able to tap into a sound that will feel familiar from previous albums while continuing to be vulnerable in their lyrics, which allows listeners to join The Red Pears in their pursuits of innovative and experimental music, in turn enhancing the musicality of the band.
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