The new single from New Junk City comes with a polished gleam missing from previous efforts, but don’t worry, there’s still plenty of melodic punk verve and rousing energy to pound your beers and raise a fist to. “Stay Asleep,” is the latest single to be revealed from the band’s upcoming LP, Same Places, and while it keeps true to the group’s penchant for plainspoken lyrics and contagious hooks, the additional harmonies, layered guitars, and crisp production suggest the band is upping the ante.

It’s a move that makes sense. New Junk City are well established in the local scene and, while they’ve displayed remarkable consistency and a tendency toward subtle evolutions, their sound has mostly been one-dimensional. “Stay Asleep,” however, feels different, even if on the surface, much of it remains the same: the band still sprints forward with anthemic aplomb, and singer John Vournakis still rants about relationships, getting older, and trying to make sense of his place in the world. But while past efforts have focused on the cathartic value of confronting your demons, here Vournakis favors blissful slumber: “If you heard me when I was talking in my sleep / I’m dreaming and I never want to leave.”

Maturity was never really in the cards for New Junk City; their music is too reliant on simple narratives and youthful exuberance. A softer, cleaner sound would almost certainly result in disaster, so the band continues to chug along with scrappy intensity while painting greater details into their unembellished canvas. But amidst the raucous din there is some measure of wisdom, and the group doesn’t come off as weathered in the process. That’s an impressive feat for any band, but New Junk City make it sound easy.

Same Places is out Oct. 12 as a split release between Night Animal Records, Real Ghost Records, and Secret Pennies Records.

New Junk City will celebrate the release of Same Places on Sat., Oct. 6 at the EARL alongside Seagulls, King of Summer, and the Carolyn. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $8 in advance or $10 DOS. 21+ to enter.

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