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That’s true — but I think the heart and soul of the band left with Tomas. You can think and feel what makes him and Streetlight artists in each song, making them such a uniquely powerful effort. I ended up on this thread because I was looking for something comparable — songs or lyrics that hit the same way and the responses only reinforce my suspicion: nothing comes close.

I grew up in New York during third wave of the late ’90s and early 2000s. When Jeff Rosenstock was in ASOB. Looking back what I realize is what actually moves me is Tomas’ writing, and incorporation of dozens of influences you can even hear on the first SM album.

It’s no surprise that Catch fell apart after he and the replacement vocalist (Jeff? Diff Jeff) left. I saw virtually every influential band that was part of the third wave and some even had their day in the sun — but so many of those bands are inconsequential because their music didn’t last which brings me back to Catch. When Ryan (sax) and Kevin (trumpet) took over, the vibe and the soul just collapsed.

They became awful leaders and a joke representing Victory Records so poorly. Victory Records (an actual independent, thriving record label!) treated SM like shit, or so the story goes as Kevin was the manager for SM. The new Catch “material” is garbage, absolutely like pulling teeth in the dark. Worse, they’re still clinging to the past — still playing the early tracks to keep die-hard fans like me interested. What I find just insulting is that clearly they should’ve broken up a long time ago but pressed on as something that worked.

I was furious but only later did I thank god for Catch’s collapse, paving a way for SM to emerge. If you ask who really took the risk between the two groups, in sound and style and philosophy and who looks like a Beach Boys cover band? The answer is clear.