Make no mistake, “A Better Way” are a pop-punk band, but with radio-ready production and intentionally personal lyrics, they demand to be taken seriously. Frontman Jacob Price was originally a drummer before a battle with addiction spit him out the other side of the system with a story he felt compelled to share. His message is one of accountability, acceptance, and a desire to live a life you don’t need to run from. Searching for a distraction to distance himself from a larger statistic, Price found himself down a rabbit hole of obsessive songwriting. After honing his skills as a writer and producer, he was left with no choice but to take his place behind the mic to speak his truth. 
 The result is “Love Affair”; a collection of polished upbeat pop songs loosely based on the dynamics of a romantic relationship, but you don’t have to look far to draw parallels to Price’s battle with his darkest inner demons. His vocal delivery puts him in good company with pop-punk heavy hitters “In Her Own Words” and “Boys of Fall” (both of which feature on the album). While palm-muted guitars and sing-along choruses are the benchmarks of the album, the clean pop production tips its hat to bands like All Time Low and the Band Camino. “Love Affair” feels like an almost callback to the pop-pop/emo of the early 2000s, simultaneously existing as a feel-good summer anthem and a melancholy romp through self-reflection. 
 -Matt Obrien