Any fans of 2000s Emo and modern Pop Punk should have been put on notice when SoCal-based Stateside released their debut album, Where You Found Me, on June 6, 2025.
As the group pushes closer to the Emo-Punk mainstream, they have ensured their first release under Punk Rock record label Pure Noise Records stays true to their core sound. Pure Noise, home to critically recognized acts such as Knocked Loose, signed Stateside in August 2024. With that signing came a more traditional ‘aggressive Pop-Punk’ approach, and Where You Found Me only deepens that sound while showcasing Stateside at their best compared to the few EPs they have released thus far.
Ten songs in total, from the start, those like “Vista Verde” grab you with their earworm melodies and a lyric that encapsulates Stateside’s place in the scene today: “Still so far so good.” The new record balances heavy yet melodic guitars and raw, emotional vocals, carrying a vulnerability not always found in Punk today. It is also an album steeped in emotion, diving into the messy reality of growing up.
While there is plenty of straightforward Punk energy, the band also branches into related territory. For example, “The End’s Not Near, It’s Here” stands out as a true Emo anthem. The distorted guitars and whiny, desperate vocals combine to create a track that is both intense and deeply relatable. The refrain, “I’m not ready, I’m not,” captures that all-too-well-known moment of internal conflict: wanting change but now knowing how to create it. It is some of the most compelling work they have released, proving that Stateside can throw punches with the best in Emo-Punk songwriting.
Lyrically, Where You Found Me shines in songs like “Like a Rosary,” where both symbolism and vocal delivery stand out, revealing the band’s introspective side. Meanwhile, “Aly’s Song” bursts with thrashing guitars and serves as a centerpiece of the album, exploring the fragility of connection. Stateside’s subtle instrumental layering here perfectly complements the vulnerability in the lyrics. The chorus, “Leave me, where you found me,” encapsulates the album’s recurring theme of longing, a bittersweet plea that starts quietly but builds into something more powerful.
The true standout, however, is “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.” Here, Stateside weaves Emo elements into an electronic beat that doubles as a metronome, resulting in a darker, moodier track than the rest of the record. Leaning into this aesthetic, the memory-soaked lyrics feel both haunting and relatable. The line “I saw forever on a clear day” suggests fleeting moments of clarity amid emotional fog, with the entire track revolving around the feeling of being stuck. The song’s steady pacing and weighty delivery align perfectly with its themes, making it one of the most emotionally gripping Emo-Punk tracks in recent memory.
At just over thirty minutes, Where You Found Me is a concise journey through moments of reflection. The songs often subvert predictable structures, starting with acoustic-led intros that swell into the huge guitars you would expect from a Pop Punk band. As a debut, it is very promising. If Stateside can maintain or build on this level of quality, their name will be one to watch in the Pop Punk/Emo landscape for years to come. That is why Cryptic Rock gives Where You Found Me 4 out of 5 stars.
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