Leisure Hour – …that one day Review

There’s something joyous about finding a new band that you think you’ll fall instantly in love with after the first song; for me, that was Leisure Hour. I hadn’t heard of this band before their latest album, …that one day, was shared with me, but I instantly dug their sound. This album aims to continue the band’s storm on the emo scene, but after spending some time to really digest this album, I’m not sure what to think.

Opening with their lead and arguably their most popular single from this album, Am I Dumb?, you’re witness to catchy emo riffs and a vocal delivery that wouldn’t sound out of place among modern greats like Hot Mulligan and Mom Jeans. It’s a self-deprecating look at Isaiah Neal’s life as he chooses smoking and drinking over dealing with issues. We’ve all been there – but oftentimes throughout this album, these experiences can sometimes feel a bit forced.

Then there’s the whiplash that is The Ballad of Floyd Padgent, which switches up the formula as bassist and vocalist Grace Dudas takes the microphone, bringing a more Sincere Engineer vibe to the band which, for a first-time listen, was a bit unexpected. This, however, is what Leisure Hour does. There are no lead vocalists; both Neal, Dudas, and drummer Raegan Gordon lead the mic on some songs, and come together on others. It’s an interesting concept and adds to the uniqueness of this band.

Now, if you’re reading a review for an emo band, you’re probably all too familiar with a particular brand of emo that is often referred to as Stoner Emo. Bands like Mom Jeans, Worst Party Ever, and Macseal are prime examples of this sub-sub-genre, singing about getting high, house-party escapades, and general tomfoolery. Leisure Hour could very easily fall into this category, too, especially with this album. However, I think there’s also a fine line that can easily be crossed between singing about dumb decisions and making dumb decisions your entire personality.

Sadly, I feel Leisure Hour are guilty of falling into the latter category, at times. Lyrically, I found some songs to be a little cringe and contrived. There’s an overemphasis on smoking cigarettes (there’s even a song called Cigarette Habit), several mentions of the band members’ ages, and even a mention of “hitting my vape”. Like, we get it, you’re young, dumb, and having fun, but surely that’s not all you have to sing about, right? I’m aware this could be instantly relatable for other twenty-somethings, but it became exhausting after the fourth mention of smoking cigarettes.

It’s a shame because …that one day has the potential to be fucking fantastic. Musically, it actually hits the spot for me; there’s a perfect balance of upbeat bops, catchy choruses, emo riffs, and even the odd slow song. Contrary to my thoughts on the lyricism, there are also some killer hooks, too. Looking past the lyrics, Leisure Hour know how to make a great earworm. I’ve even been guilty of humming the chorus to Bury Me At 7/11 and My Existence.

For me, this album is a bit of a mental tug-of-war. On the one hand, there are some great elements to this band and album overall; they genuinely have some incredible material here, musically it’s a 10/10. It’s catchy, hooky, and I have truly enjoyed listening to it. On the other hand, I can’t move past the beating-a-dead-horse nature of the lyricism. This could just be a generational thing. I’m sure if I were in my early twenties, maybe I could relate more. Maybe it’s just not that serious, à la Mom Jeans. For me, though, it just feels a bit feigned.