YELLOWCARD & HAMMOCK: A Hopeful Sign

Lo and behold, the great pop-punk revival of recent years would have never been complete without the return of Yellowcard. Two decades after their MySpace-era breakthrough, the Jacksonville quartet spent 2023 playing to the true believers, with their Ocean Avenue tour and Childhood Eyes EP conjuring up waves of Hot Topic memories for a legion of aging scene kids. The band may never have achieved Blink- or Green Day-levels of cross-generational appeal, but their dogged work ethic continues into 2024 with A Hopeful Sign, a collection of Yellowcard originals reimagined in collaboration with Hammock, a Nashville dup known for their ambient/post-rock style.

A Hopeful Sign offers a dreamy, soothing alternative to the band's well-known sound, with a particular focus on lesser-known tracks. “Telescope,“ originally from 2012's Southern Air, finds new depth and emotion in Hammock's reimagining. Some tracks connect more than others, but each effortlessly aligns with Hammock's H&M dressing room vibe. The first single- of course- is a dreamy, lite FM take on “Ocean Avenue.” You can already imagine hearing it in the trailer of some Netflix original about junior high superheroes.

It’s probably not a surprise that the album's ambient nature lacks the energy and dynamics of typical Yellowcard. The record sometimes feels too deliberate, lacking creative exploration to settle for something gentle and vibey. Despite the shortcomings, A Hopeful Sign provides perfectly listenable reinterpretations for fans of both artists, serving as a unique addition to both libraries. If you’re fond of Linkin Park’s One More Light, for example, this record might be right up your alley. While not essential, it remains an enjoyable homage to Yellowcard's past, and hints at an unwritten future. B-