Scarlet Street, a boisterous four-piece hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, play the kind of achingly honest yet playfully hooky pop-punk that sometimes feels like it doesn’t exist anymore. With songs that fearlessly confront the universal failings of being human, the overall effect of listening to Scarlet Street is not unlike a friendly, genuine smile offered through a black eye and a busted lip.

Scarlet Street’s newest material reflects their drive and intensity to be the best band they possibly can. Seitz’s songwriting hinges on its earnestness and vulnerability just as much as on his witty turns of phrase and clever construction of vocal hooks. Nimble rhythm section work from Tenhundfeld and Leitch creates a steady bedrock upon which Seitz and Deters build staticky guitar lines that propel songs forward just as often as they fall apart into moments of sheer emotional desperation. An excellent example of this is the slow-building standout “Dealey Plaza,” which rests on a guilelessly intimate performance with Seitz’s voice and guitar isolated from the rest of the band before ascending into a fall-on-the-floor show-stopper as the rest of the band crashes down around him.

Scarlet Street’s best quality is their resolute fearlessness of baring everything for their audience. With songs revolving around topics ranging from dealing with friends descending into addiction to the experience of living in a terrible apartment with wretched roommates to executive dysfunction and failing physical health, Scarlet Street have no shortage of lyrics about incredibly painful topics. It is a testament to the sheer power of their sharply-observed lyrics, sticky pop melodies, and polished performances that you can only listen to these songs with a smile on your face.