The Flips - ​Better Days

The Flips

​Better Days
self-released; 2015

4.0 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

The Flips consisting of Nick Sintos (guitar/vocals), Mike Carlson (drums/vocals), Dustin Martin (guitar), Annette Nowacki (keys/vocals/percussion) and Mac Kelem (bass/vocals) recently released their second album entitled Better Days. The title seems appropriate when considering some of the trials and tribulations that Sintos has been through and where he was at emotionally during the time he wrote the songs. 

Better Days brings you emotionally heavy rock music that feels heartfelt and cathartic. It seemed obvious to me through the lyrics that making the music was probably therapeutic to Sintos and the rest of the band. 

The title track starts off the album and seemed in many ways like the turning point for better days. Lyrics like “Head in hands, left out and left alone again / What’s the plan, save face and fight off all you can / We’re horrible and plain” and “I’m so ashamed of what I had to say / And I can’t wait for better pastures” seem to suggest someone who is at their lowest point but in the back of their mind understands that all things pass and things will get better.

The next song “Take Cover” which is covered in white noise from the guitar deals with a similar subject of someone who is at end of their rope and having to dig deep in order to embrace the light on the other side. Sintos stretches his vocal chords and the delivery is intense when he sings, “Take Cover / I’m turning / And I don’t feel fine / You notice I own this I don’t feel fine.” 

As the album progresses the band continues to turn out catchy, cathartic rock with songs like “Selfish” and “Down In Waves.” One of the highlights is “Doubt” which reminded me of The Smashing Pumpkins in a numbers of ways. The song is heavy and really breaks down what this entire album seems to be about. Sintos sings about the light vs. the dark, the past and the future and the constant battle of emotions that leave him apprehensive. 

Better Days feels like an incredibly personal album and I think because of that a lot of people can relate to it. The inner struggle that Sintos sings about is in all of us to some degree. We as humans battle with our fears and doubts and being able to find the will to persevere to see better days instead of giving in when we are at our lowest is a remarkable thing.

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