Releasing their first EP of new material in nearly 20 years, New Jersey’s own Tokyo Rose have not just blown away the dust, but have reached new heights with the Never Say Die EP. Influenced by the sounds of the era that launched them and sharply defined by the knowledge that time and experience bring, Never Say Die balances beloved nostalgia and fresh energy across 5 new tracks.
The spirit of the early-aughts alternative and emo scene is alive and well with Tokyo Rose. Formed in Jersey’s vibrant alternative scene, Tokyo Rose quickly grew into a prominent name with the release of their debut album Reinventing A Lost Art in 2003. What followed were years of tours, festival engagements alongside other beloved names in the alternative pantheon, an EP and 2 more LPs, but Tokyo Rose were never a band to stay within trendy boundaries. For many alternative, emo and adjacent bands in the early 2000s scene, many were a flash in the pan, but Tokyo Rose refused to blend in. Pushing their music boundaries between every release, the band ably traversed shades of punk, pop-punk, emo, and math rock.
With nearly 2 decades of musical evolution, Tokyo Rose bring tight melodies, dynamic arrangements, and nostalgia-inspired lyrics on Never Say Die. Produced and mixed by Fred Mascherino (Taking Back Sunday/The Color Fred) and Steve Angelo (Swedish House Mafia), the new EP simultaneously pulls on heartstrings with atmospheric midwest emo power and a progressive, energetic undercurrent of electronica. It is clear from track one that Tokyo Rose are not trying to cash in on a throwback, but to breathe new life into a project that connects with day-ones and new listeners.
Opening with “Phoenecian Fire”, the band conjure images of rising from the ashes as something stronger and poised for the fight of their lives. Wading into the urgency and edgier side of indie is “Something Sweeter”. Tokyo Rose demonstrate their ability to fuse pop and math rock with “Better When (Fibonacci x Pascal) for a track that sounds like Minus The Bear if they were booked to play an EDM festival. “Ugly Comes Out” shows off the band’s lyrical prowess to write a catchy song about one nasty-ass human being. Ending on a midwest crooner jam with Jimmy Eat World energy is “It’s All We Have & We Don’t Want It To End” – arguably the most touching anthem to each other and their fans.
As they did nearly 20 years ago, Tokyo Rose pushed themselves to find that unique something to set themselves apart from the throngs of mall emo acts of the day. Never Say Day is a culmination of what was, what is, and what can be. Never Say Die is irrefutable proof that Tokyo Rose deserves their flowers but will not rest on laurels.
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Manic Kat Records
Bio:
An emo-influenced pop-punk band from New Jersey, Tokyo Rose was formed in 2001, while singer and guitarist Ryan Dominguez and bassist Chris Poulsen were both students at Rutgers University. Though both were playing with other bands, the two shared similar musical interests and decided to launch a band of their own. Tokyo Rose played local shows when the members’ busy schedules permitted and they booked tours to coincide with vacations and between-term breaks. Tokyo Rose also recorded a self-released EP, Chasing Fireflies, which became the band’s calling card after Dominguez and Poulsen graduated and made the band a full-time priority.
Following a number of personnel changes, the band had a solid lineup with the addition of Greg Doran on guitar and Jon Smith on drums, and in 2003, during a tour of California, the band signed a deal with the independent label Sidecho Records, who released the group’s first full-length album, Reinventing a Lost Art, in July 2003. Extensive touring followed, including playing the 2003 CMJ Festival, the 2004 South by Southwest Music Conference, and the 2004 Warped Tour.
In 2005, after returning home from a tour of Japan, Tokyo Rose began work on their second album, New American Saint, which was released in October 2005 and featured a new lineup, with Josh Lurie taking over for Doran on guitar and Tom Roslak replacing Smith as drummer. Lots more touring followed, both in America and abroad, and by the time Tokyo Rose began work on their third album, Lurie and Roslak were out of the band, with Tokyo Rose reshaping themselves as a trio and Jake Margolis on board as their new drummer. The third album, Promise in Compromise, was released by Sidecho in July 2007.
