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Photo Credit: Kay Dargs

Ottawa-based pop-punk band Bearings have returned with their exhilarating third LP, The Best Part About Being Human, and deliver a body of work that shamelessly serves the end-of-summer angst we didn’t know we needed.

Comprised of vocalist Dougie Cousins, drummer Mike McKerracher, bassist Collin Hanes, and guitarists Ryan Fitz and Ryan Mulligan, the quintet followed up their sophomore album Hello, It’s You with a desire to get back to their roots with a more minimalistic style.

On the album’s origins, the band said, “The Best Part About Being Human is being alive, and the second best part is writing an upbeat and exciting record with your brothers in a small house in North Hollywood. This record was us figuring out what we really wanted to play live, what got us excited, and I think we found that.” The result is 10 tracks of pure nostalgia and attention-grabbing pop-punk energy.

The band has shared their track-by-track thoughts behind the summery and anthemic album with The Noise and opened up about the body of work's themes and creative process below!

Scenery

An energetic and fun song. Our best imitation of Sway and our best excuse to steal the mutt bass line. "Scenery" is about love, enjoying the summer with your friends, and finding a good reason to have seltzer on the beach.

Don't Wanna Forget About It

Living with the old memories of something you had but not necessarily unhappy about it. Coming to terms with the fact that people come and go, the good and the bad. One of those songs that came together naturally when we decided to have a summer weekend together in Ottawa, where we hit the beach and the bars.

Gone So Gone

"Gone So Gone" is about the reality and events of someone leaving. With that though, you understand that everything is just a moment, nothing truly belongs to you, and it all comes and goes. Upbeat and fun, but also sort of pissed off you couldn't make the communication work, that's why you have a fun bridge with a woo to enjoy on a nice summer's day.

Go Long

Getting a little existential and a little sad you miss your lover. The song focuses on missing that person, with touring, it feels like you're in a long-distance relationship even when you live with the person at times, so when it's also actually long distance, it's a bit tough. Was also able to throw a little baseball reference in there with "Try to play the shift, but it's always going long". So I'm pretty happy about that.

Ocean Dream

"Ocean Dream" is the song that finally puts an end to the debate "The Mountains, Or the Beach?" Cause the answer is the beach. A song we wrote over COVID and the first song written for the record technically. It has some of that Hello, It's You energy but with a bit more power behind it. We figured a big sax solo would also be fun, gonna have to figure out how we're gonna do that live.

Howie, You're a Freak

It's the most fun and possibly bubbliest song on the record. It talks about falling in love despite your best efforts not to and diving into that experience. The song title comes from the movie Benchwarmers, where Howie finally overcomes his fear of the sun and goes with the team to the baseball game.

Slip

When it feels like you can't do anything right, but you keep trying to make it work. Trying to figure out how those old couples made it work so long and what the hell undying love actually looks like. It probably looks like a lot of mistakes, a lot of forgiveness and compassion. We once had a teacher say the best attribute to have in a relationship is a bad memory. Not sure if that's true.

Live Forever Never Die

That attachment to your soul and to other's souls. The feeling we're never truly apart, even after we pass on. While we have no evidence to suggest that is the case, there's no denying Live Forever Never Die just sounds cool as fuck.

I Want To Heal

And don't we all? Not knowing where that person went or where you went sometimes. Whether it's losing yourself or losing someone you care about, whether forever or them just taking a different path you want to find a way to have some sense of resolve. Our heaviest song on the record but also having some dark and pretty vibes we can't wait to rock this one with the amps at 11.

Human

One of the last songs written for the record. It's a bit sarcastic and a bit lonely. Just waiting for something to make us feel alive, whether it's falling off your bike or seeing a fire engulf something, we wait for that reminder. A big guitar solo and a soft ending signals the end of the record, and we're outa there.

Be sure to check out Bearings latest album, The Best Thing About Being Human, today!