Take A Trip With Off Road Minivan With May This Keep You Safe From Harm

By Phil Hawkins

Sophomore slump is a phrase that is not synonymous with Off Road Minivan’s latest, May This Keep You Safe From Harm. Since the release of their debut EP, Spiral Gaze (2018), Off Road Minivan have continued to mature their sound and hone their craft releasing their most personal and reflective album to date

Throughout the pandemic, the band members wrote and sent ideas back-and-forth. Simultaneously, they stitched together a throughline carried by the real-life interviews with members of Tuck’s family (actual secret recordings of Tuck’s family thread together a nostalgic and nuanced vision). The Hudson Valley quartet—front man Ryan “Tuck” O’Leary [Fit For A King], Evan Garcia Renart, Miles Taylour Sweeny, and Mike Planko—pin memories of real-life experiences to instantly chantable alternative anthems awash in nineties energy and uplifted with a 21^st century perspective.

“Fade Out” opens the album with a bit of a somber overtone that swiftly transitions in to an energy filled nineties anthem in the vein of Weezer’s “blue” album. “Basement” follows and keeps a similar gravitas to it, but it should be noted that O’Leary’s vocal approach and delivery is much more haunting than that of Rivers Cuomo and is akin more to the late Jon Bunch (Sense Field, Further Seems Forever). The chorus carries the strong line; “I’ve been sitting in your basement with the demons you’ve been chasing screaming, ‘Come back. Come back’.” “The Beacon” shifts things away from the Weezer vibes and feels like more emo/pop twinged version that might be offered by label mates Valleyheart (someone please make an Off Road Minivan/Valleyheart tour happen). “Pity Sex” feels heavy, dark and brooding but manages to keep a solid nostalgic pop infused vibe with a swooning chorus that will draw you in and not let go.

“The Breakdown” carries a solid theatrical vibe as it is solidly composed keeping a constant ebb and flow that feels like a musical roller coaster of sorts. As it peaks and valleys it seems to tell a cohesive story in the somewhat short space allotted without feeling rushed. “Karma” starts with a simplistic piano rhythm that feels like it could be featured on a Ben Folds (Five) album. Even the lyrical content/context feels melancholic, but against the piano laden track it seems oddly uplifting as well somehow. “Cheerleader” is a solidly placed contrast against “Karma” as it is a full forced sonic force. “Victim Complex” follows a similar tempo as “Cheerleader” and keeps things upbeat and pushes an almost punk structure as it is fast paced and lyrically in your face with lines like; “You make bad decisions and treat people like sh*t. You can play the victim card all you want, but it’s on you.”

“Out Alive” and “Billy” are both solidly written tracks, but seem to get lost so late on the album as they don’t quite carry the same punch as the rest of the tracks up to this point. However, they should not be skipped as they both carry solid songwriting. “Commitment Issues” ushers in the final act and has very large sound to it. The groove is a bit slower at first but it meshes in to a slightly more up tempo piece and showcases more of the band’s ability to craft a track that peaks a valleys flawlessly without losing even the average listener. “It’s Nothing Personal” closes out the album in a somewhat somber tone, but given the overall structure of the album it is the perfect endcap on a nearly flawless album.

May This Keep You Safe From Harm carries a sense that haunting and brooding, but after generating millions of streams and inciting critical acclaim, the group fashion a sonic keepsake out of their own experiences meant to be shared as loudly as possible. I would not be at all surprised to see this album make several best of lists in the coming months.

May This Keep You Safe From Harm is out now on Tooth & Nail Records and available on all major streaming and digital platforms. Physical copies can be purchased via the band’s webstore.