A couple of months ago, a video of New Jersey punk/Titus Andronicus leader doing a rendition of Bruce Springsteen’s Born To Run with this 3-guitared band was all over music blogs. My first reaction to the video was “Ugh…Diarrhea Planet?”. It’s a terrible name for a band, and I still think it is. But, I was taught a lesson that day: Never judge a band by their horrible name. Because Diarrhea Planet is a MONSTER. They chugged their guitars triumphantly over Stickles and really brought something out of him.

While Titus Andronicus deals with dreary pessimism and socioeconomic issues with a heavier hand, Diarrhea Planet manages to bring a youthful Punk-Pop flavor to some more personal subjects. One thing that strikes me about this project is just how fantastically it nails the unnerving doom that graces all us poor suckers under 30. Despite the vicious guitars and glorious hooks, songs like Separations cover the emotions behind long-distance relationships, while Kids and The Sound of My Ceiling Fan manage to capture the hopelessness felt at the crossroads of life perfectly (and that ain’t hyperbole). Now, the lyrical themes aren’t entirely consistent (Album opener Heavy Metal is a dedication to VHS tapes and the movie Heavy Metal), but that’s never a problem for these guys.

The one thing, besides some incredibly well structured and written songs, that absolutely fetches me is the sound. The three guitars are tangle up into a giant vicious mountain of sound, one that reverberates in your ears and engulfs you in a way you won’t feel from many punk albums these days. I’d probably compare it to a less expansive The World Is a Beautiful Place or a more personal Torche. In fact, this stuff really blurs the lines between some of the great stoner metal from last year and the anthemic bliss of TItus and the like.

Plus, piece is weaker than any of the others. Vocalist Jordan Smith has a strong voice that really carries some of the ear worm melodies brilliantly. Plus, all three guitarists bring a lot of interesting and incredible riffs and ideas to the table. The chugs behind the drowning guitar line on Field of Dreams is one of the most mind numbingly awesome instrumental breaks this year (not to mention the thundering drums that immediately follow). These guys are great at milking moments of their resonance, and it never feels pandering or overwrought. The beautiful Kids starts as a melancholy drifter, transforms into a nearly folksy trot (and almost evokes some Real Estate), before exploding into a melting pot of emotion. It captures depression and desperate nostalgia in a powerful manner.

Now, there are moments that are less emotional, but they’re just as great. Pummeling romps like Hammer of the Gods and Togano are chant-alongs that really nail down the whole “Chant along” thing. And if you’re bigger on vicious solos and kick-ass tracks, this album has you covered. Ugliest Son will rip you apart and then show no remorse. Now, some might say “Eh…Power Punk can’t be that vicious”. But I’m Rich manages to do heavy than most of the mediocre metal albums I hear every year.

These are some really talented young guys, and this album already shows how great these guys are at what they do. It captures all the energy of those crazy possum ridden basement shows that they’ve been known for on YouTube. Can’t wait for whatever they do next.

Summary: I’m Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams lives up to the wild singles that proceeded it, with explosive punk, stellar hooks, great instrumentation, and a perfect mix of emotional resonance and straight up punk pop.

Choice Cuts: Kids, The Sound of My Ceiling Fan, Separation, Field of Dreams

Leftovers: Enter the Great Gate

A (4.5-5/5)

Stream Kids and Separations (And, for kicks, that Born to Run w/ Stickles video) below. I’m Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams is out 8/20 on Infinity Cat.