The Color Fred - A Year And Change (2022)

Fred Mascherino, one of the creative forces behind bands like Breaking Pangea, and Taking Back Sunday has been pretty busy over the years. With multiple side-projects that turned into full-time bands and being very active on his Youtube channel in the past couple years, he has been working on his next album under his solo moniker The Color Fred. Finally, after teasing some new songs via his Youtube channel, A Year And Change is coming out, the first The Color Fred album in 15 years and it’s a solid release that blends his pop punk sound with that 90’s indie rock sound.

A Year and Change is strange in one way, and that is it is technically already out. Starting in 2019, The Color Fred has released singles every few months or so. Those songs all ended up on this release. March marked the last track, “Creatures”, seeing the light of day, and completing the 14 track album in the form of singles.

“Lost & Lonely” is an instant classic on A Year and Change. It really brings a more pop perspective and a sound he mastered in his first release Bend To Break. It’s a fun song with a killer chorus that will have you singing along, getting you hyped up. It’s the most pop-focused song on the album, but it does a great job in its execution.

“Everwrite” is probably the closest song The Color Fred gets to really harnessing that 90’s indie rock sound. From the lyrics, to the way he plays his guitar and the tone of it all, I felt transported back to some hazy dorm room in the 90’s where some stoner is playing a stack of cassettes he got at the record store on a whim. The song seems bright, but with downtrodden tones. It’s probably one of the best songs on the album, and should be a starting point if you’re trying to listen to the singles before the album comes out.

The tracks on A Year and Change seem to be heavily inspired by bands like The Lemonheads (which would make sense seeing as Fred Mascherino played bass for them on one of their recent tours). Each track does a great job recreating and encompassing a feeling from 90’s indie rock bands. Not many of the tracks sound alike, which is always a breath of fresh air. This album is ever shifting, but stays true to the goal it wants to achieve.

Be sure to check out A Year And Change when it comes out April 1st via Heading East Records. This is a fantastic release from The Color Fred, and hopefully we get to hear more songs in the near future.