Everything Is Not Alright!

Words: Ollie Hopewell

The UK’s pop-punk and alt. rock scenes are currently undergoing a resurgence the likes of

which I never dreamt of seeing, but this time we seem to be skipping over the angsty

teenage sound pioneered by the likes of Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco and heading straight for the more refined sound found in the catalogues of Avril Lavigne, Paramore, and Good Charlotte. Just a quick aside, Panic! and Fall Out Boy are nowhere near being the best pop-punk bands and I will die on this hill.

They also sound identical, fight amongst yourselves.

However, within this resurgence we have found ourselves floating in a sea of male-fronted

bands bemoaning their tragic loves and their fatigue of modernity re-Morrissey circa 1984,

but this setting has only given ample opportunity for Liverpool-based five-piece Ugly Jumper to be the buoy that floats above the sea of tumult, delivering their message with an

interesting sound and lyrics that sway between comedy and tragedy.

The message of Ugly Jumper’s debut EP, Everything Is Not Alright!, is one of forlorn

reflection, platonic love for bassist Andy Moores (see Captain Andy Pants), and, going off of their first music video, a genuine love of pints. It’s clear to see the influences of pop-punk

and alt. rock on the band, but there is also connections to mid-west emo in more than just

sound; Everything Is Not Alright!’s album art clearly evokes that of American Football’s iconic first LP, American Football, but Mike Kinsella’s soft vocal stylings were never meant to perforate the stronger sound that Ugly Jumper are gunning for.

Vocal lead, KC Hamer, draws clear inspiration from Paramore’s Hayley Williams but has

tones that range somewhere between a Siamese Dream era Billy Corgan and Björk’s vocal

stylings on the Cocoon EP; this raw sound is only complimented by the twiddling and

chiming guitar riffs of Nat Owens and Lucas Hammond, the duo kept in check the

aforementioned Andy Moores on bass who takes a more reserved approach to his role in the rhythm section. Ugly Jumper have utilised the gentle touch of Loz Riley on the drum kit for the recording of this EP, but I’m positive that the slightly heavier, and often chaotic, beats of James Genty will lend well to live performances, especially in the high-octane track Television! Teacher! Mother! Secret Lover!.

Everything might not be alright in the world, but the Fanta enthusiasts responsible for

Everything Is Not Alright! have shown real growth since their early works of 2023; Blink N Ur

Dead is the perfect start to wind into the EP while Penny Pot is reminiscent of The

Cranberries’ early work. Captain Andy Pants, released as a before the EP, feels very mid-

west emo in its streaming guitars and shoutier vibe.

There is a lot to look out for with Ugly Jumper as they neatly bounce between subgenres

whilst keeping things fresh and connected, and I’m sure that their debut album is well on its

way at this point. I don’t care if the next track released is parallel to debut single hate me,

please, or if the group try their hand at some kind of jazz fusion just to mix things up further,

I’m just excited to be around for the next evolution in the band’s sound.