Explains It All

iTunes Review

With Explains It All, Four Years Strong pays tribute to the bands from the tail end of the 20th century that inspired them. The Worcester, Massachusetts quintet not only covers their “alternative modern rock” favorites from the ‘90s (such as Nirvana’s “In Bloom), they also take on some bygone guilty pleasures (like Third Eye Blind’s “Semi-Charmed Life” and Alanis Morissette’s misnomer hit “Ironic”). A Ritalin-deprived rendition of Everclear’s “So Much For The Afterglow” tears things open with a pop-punk style that’s so air-tight, they sound imported from Berkeley, California’s ever thriving music scene. Explains It All abounds with various guest appearances. Keith Buckley from metalcore band Every Time I Die lends his trademark rasp on a punchy version of the Smashing Pumpkins’ “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” and Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes cameos on a hilarious rip on Sugar Ray’s beach-bro anthem “Fly.” Saxophone player JR Wasilewski from ska punk band Less Than Jake and Buddy Schaub from Goldfinger make an appropriate appearance on a spitting take of No Doubt’s “Spiderwebs.”