My relationship with the Frenchies in P.O.Box is a complicated one. From absolutely loving their vibrant, rudely effective demo to growing out of touch with them on their last two releases while loving their live show though it all, I was very eager yet skeptic at the same time to hear how they would digest their first visit to an actual studio worthy of the name.

Now we had to wait a long time for this first full-lengther (too long perhaps, and that’s without the annoying factory delays that saw the release of this album pushed back by months) but at least the result is more than rewarding. Finally hearing “Bully”, “Broken Heart And Credit Cards” and “Death Promises Me A Better Place”, all issue from their “Rock My Reality” EP, with a recording quality that leaves nothing to be desired, quite makes all the difference. But it’s not those other oldies and crowd favorites like “Little Boy” and “Chalk It Up To The Experience” that steal the show on here either, as new tracks like the blistering “God Blasts America” show a P.O.Box full of confidence, leisurely delivering a mix of saturated rocksteady, easy-going ska and horn-driven melodic skatecore with a kind of appetite that could swallow the world whole. Ever since their beginnings, P.O.Box had a knack for creating tracks that were extremely efficient and captivating, even in their simplicity, and though the band somewhat struggled with their identity over the last two EP’s in my opinion, “… And The Lipstick Traces” doesn’t leave any doubt that P.O.Box are finally on top of their game and able to focus both their broad arsenal of styles and their engaged attitude in a singular fashion that adds a whole new dimension to their tracks.

“Music Has Taken A Backseat To Haircuts”, featuring Dave from Big D And The Kids Table no less, is an absolute gem with it’s laid back grooves, but it’s “The Theory Of Obscurity”, an almost all-instrumental track, that shows the most significant progress P.O.Box has made as a band these past few years. Because even without the potent vocals of singer Seb, whose rapid vocal delivery always was one of the major assets to the band, they are able to hold their ground. There’s a massive anthemic nature about most of the newer batch of tracks that P.O.Box couldn’t quite nail on their previous compositions. They where always captivating enough, but nothing that really worked all the way. There where always a lot of cool moments but nothing that really kicked you in the nuts. I know that’s a very thin line to walk, and much open to personal preferences, but P.O.Box seem to have finally crossed to the other shore, much to my delight. Though my vocals chords might not want to agree, as I can’t help myself singing along at top capacity of my lungs to the likes of “Look What You Have Done”, a track that embodies the whole spirit behind the album (and ultimately the band itself), and will undoubtedly please even the most rabid follower of engaged bands the likes of Anti Flag! “Everyb’addict”, with its festive nature is a particular favorite of mine, because I think as a band that is trying to get a message across (just make sure to read the booklet) it’s easy to let yourself glide with a moodset that becomes very transparent, very quickly. “Everyb’addict”, dance-worthy as it is, also brings back the joyous energetic aspect of the band. Beside being a welcome addition to all those heavy themes, it’s also a solid reminder of why I fell in love with this band in the first place. Also thumbs up for the acoustic rendition of “Diving”. Maybe there’s hope for Seb’s acoustic side-project after all. This is the good stuff.

The most difficult task for P.O.Box is yet to come, because even though “…And The Lipstick Traces” profilates itself as an album worthy of an international following, it remains to be seen if the band can consolidate this notion with a next release. The almost constant member-changes might prove to be a thorn in the side, and I get the feeling that as a band that is facing massive debts, venturing to Eastern-Europe to tour for weeks and weeks in a row might work very self-destructive in the end. With “…And The Lipstick Traces”, P.O.Box (finally) have a first tool under their belt that will allow them to spread their music to a more international crowd, and I sure hope it will serve them well.

In the end, “…And The Lipstick Traces” might not be an album that assures 100% of the way due to the presence of older tracks that clash too much with the (better) songwriting of their last batch (something that contribution of festive horns by French Heavyweights The Cameleons can’t even change), but it does make for one hefty ska-punk joyride. Fans of Catch 22, Streetlight Manifesto, Big D And The Kids Table and consorts will be well pleased!

http://www.europunk.net/reviews.php?id=1245

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