REVIEW: chokecherry - Ripe Fruit Rots and Falls

Over the past two years, San Francisco’s CHOKECHERRY have appeared on multiple tour lineups, made their mark at several festivals, and now, it's finally time for the release of their debut album. The best way to experience this record is front to back, uninterrupted and no distractions. It ties in everything from punk rock to dream pop to shoegaze with some clear nods to some hardcore legends throughout some moments. 

We float into the album with opening track Porcelain Warrior. Its dreamy guitar intro and hazy vocals build up to a chorus that showcases how flawlessly IZZIE CLARK and E. SCARLETT LEVINSON can blend their vocals. It’s one of the slightly longer tracks coming in at exactly four minutes, a length that can sometimes risk feeling repetitive, but they’ve managed to keep its momentum all the way through to the end. They take a sharp turn with Major Threat, the last song to be released prior to the album. Being a louder track but keeping that dreamy vibe and being vocally inspired by TURNSTILE’S BRENDAN YATES, this track was built to be performed to a rowdy crowd - one that would be going just as hard as the audience at a show for said hardcore band. Only two tracks into the ten-track album and we have seen the range that CHOKECHERRY have to offer. 

One of the records standout moments, Secrets, delivers a raw and emotional punch. A consistent theme throughout this record is way each song builds, never leaving you disappointed. At its halfway point, there’s an ethereal moment where the whole band shines in unison, making you want to replay this one section repeatedly.  

The second half of the album takes a more upbeat turn with a notable punk rock influence. The moment You Love It When kicks in, you know it’s going to be a fan favourite. The vocals, reminiscent of HAYLEY WILLIAMS and CHLOE SLATER, bring in a fierce tone that has been underlying since the start. This switch to a more intense tone prevented all the tracks from sounding like they were blending into one, and they made the switch at the perfect time. We are led out of the track with delicate yet powerful riffs allowing the song to fade out the way it came in, creating a full circle moment.  

February is one of, if not the most chaotic song on the album, in the best possible way. It switches effortlessly between whispering to full blown intensity, keeping your attention throughout. As this is one of the louder moments, it makes you reflect on the fact that this isn’t a huge band of people - as well as delivering vocals, CLARK is on guitar and LEVINSON is on bass. It’s inspiring how they both manage to fill up so much space in these songs and makes you picture what a CHOKECHERRY show would play out like.

The album ends on a note that we were expecting: the title track that ties everything together, Ripe Fruit Rots and Falls. Like the album itself, it starts off melodic and builds up into an explosive conclusion. This track has a sense of nostalgia built into it with some spoken extracts placed throughout, creating a sense of connection and conversation with the audience whilst also adding a personal touch. It's always a great moment when a title track closes out an album - it feels like the story has officially come to an end. 

This is a beautifully produced and well-crafted album. At first, the album’s ten tracks made it feel short, but CHOKECHERRY make up for it with the track lengths. Only one of them falls under 3 minutes, adding a depth to the listening experience making it feel slightly more cinematic. It flows like a story and creates a sense of connection without any filler tracks.

A perfect listen if you’re a fan of anyone from LUVCAT to JACK OFF JILL to POPPY. With how well they put together their debut album, these guys are ones to keep an eye on. The balance between everything they gave us makes it one of those projects you must listen to in full every single time. It would be no surprise if in the next couple of years, CHOKECHERRY became a well-known name in the scene.

Score: 8/10

Ripe Fruit Rots and Falls will be released on November 14th 2025 via Fearless Records.

Words: Isabella Jacklin

Photos: Whitney Otte