AWmusic

While I’ll be the first to admit there has been a slew of albums that have been vying for my attention, this EP is solid enough to be a competitor amongst the best of them. Over the course of the album it is the emphasis on pop that I found most enjoyable. The style is not only enduring, but completely approachable for listeners. Such an execution allowed for all the passion the band represents to shine through, all the while having a memorable and pleasant delivery.

The EP begins with She Is The West Coast, which is beautifully affectionate, and so elegantly pop. The influence can be heard from the simple but fun melodies and action packed vocals. While the pop influence is what makes the music catchy and memorable, there is still passion and meaning endowed in the music. Not necessarily in the lyrics, but in the delivery of the vocals can you hear genuine care for what’s being played. Never allowing the music to be drowned by the pop where it begins to lack meaning is what drives this EP, and some might say it leans more towards the alternative rock genre. I was impressed with the aggressive but never over the top vocals and the use of simple instrumentals especially the well masked and ever so important keys. This style of rock music played to the tune of pop sounds appears well into the second track.

Track three changes things up with If It’s Up To Us, I guess every EP has to have an epic ballad-like track. If It’s Up To Us has a simple and mellow melody beneath a gritty and powerful voice. The beat throughout the verse consists of bare and repetitive piano and guitar riffs, which get slightly more complex during the chorus. The drums are also very relaxed and never reach a point of aggressiveness. The same cannot be said for the vocals which remain calm and collective during the verse and dramatically heighten throughout the chorus. The simplistic melody sets the tone, while the vocals drive the emotion and tell the story of the song. This song would definitely fall under the alternative rock category, which is not such a bad thing in this case.

Back Down Lady gets things back on track being more light-hearted and feeling like a true powerpop track. It uses pop-influenced melody’s that are catchy, simple and fun. The vocals, while still passionate, follow a spontaneous flow keeping the song high in energy. Most importantly, a serious and welcoming tone underlies the music, therefore the pop never translates into something unrewarding. So while there is definite pop elements that create a warm sound, listeners are still treated to something expressive and influential, even if acting on the smallest of emotions. The last track follows the trend, and ends the EP with something intense, vibrant and meaningful, a true hybrid of pop and rock. Down, But Not Out was definitely something, and worth checking out. It is radio friendly, but not saturated by anyone one genre leaving a quality product from quality musicians.

Check out their Myspace for official tour dates and album info.

That Was Something – She Is The West Coast.mp3

That Was Something – Till The Wheels Fall Off.mp3