Set Your Goals

Bay Area punks Set Your Goals' sophomore Epitaph release veers away from melodic hardcore and straight into heavy pop punk. Burning at Both Ends has a generally slower tempo and larger focus on melody, which may have old fans shying away while simultaneously appealing to a new scene. "Exit Summer" has a hint of Set Your Goals' original melodic hardcore-tinged sound, but quickly falls short after the first verse. The band channel early Saves the Day and Blink-182 lyrically and structurally, especially with duelling vocalists Matt Wilson and Jordan Brown trading off lines like, "I wanna break things… break rules/I don't do this to fit in or feel cool." Set Your Goals tackle familiar lyrical content (themes of moving on and moving up), but get sidetracked with "Product of the 80's," a pop song that feels more top 40 ("I grew up with David Lee and Tiffany/In love with Billy Jean and terrified of Freddy"). "Certain" is the strongest track, with a faster tempo and tight guitar, including a mid-song guitar break, amidst several hooks and a solid melody. Burning at Both Ends is a step in a new pop punk direction for Set Your Goals.