Posts Tagged ‘EP’
The Academy Is… – Lost In Pacific Time EP
The Academy Is… has always been a band which pumped out quality music, despite having grown and matured at an alarming pace. From Almost Here to Fast Times At Barrington High, all three albums showed great progression and maturation as a band, yet the individual efforts of each album can not be ignored. I’ve enjoyed all three albums many times over, and it’s obvious that The Academy Is… have always strived to improve with each and every release. It’s been a little over a year since their last release, and I was excited to hear what changes they made for Lost In Pacific Time. Upon first listen, it resembles the musical stylings from Fast Times At Barrington High. The EP consists of five alternative pop rock tracks that are serious, melodic and soulful. The nostalgic tendencies of their music make for a creative and modern emo style so to speak. While a far cry from anything remotely emo in the mainstream sense, it is their emotional nature that is admired and adored by fans.
What keeps TAI from falling into a bland and meaningless downbeat state is their knack for heavy and moving melodies. The instrumentals don’t shy away from grungy guitar work, hard hitting drums or tranquil piano melodies. Instead they play a vibrant, albeit, low key beat that fits into the alternative-emo scheme, yet is still aggressive enough for the ever changing rock scene. Much like their third studio album, I can hear the influences of 90’s UK pop bands such as The Cure. Their rock lounge appropriate style, offers a modern take of pop rock with old school influences. Such is the case for their first single off the EP, I’m Yours Tonight. To get the ball rolling, the track starts off with a guitar melody closely resembling The Cure. More so the theme of the track involves romance and love, and generally leans towards the pop aspect of the genre. That said it is still heavy enough to satisfy any rock cravings with its aggressive melodic backbone. William Beckett has always been one of the premier front mans in my mind, putting on calm and captivating performances consistently. His vocal talents are also something to be admired, as he portrays exactly the mood of music that he’s playing. His semi-aggressive and soulful voice is flawlessly passionate from start to finish.
The EP follows the same general formula throughout, but the songs are all individually good. Days Like Masquerades had a very surreal and hopeful theme. With the addition of cleverly placed choir-type backing vocals, the final product was breathtaking to say the least. But skipping to track three, Sputter, this song is very special to me. The track features the guest vocals of one of my idols, Andrew McMahon. Listening to the track I can hear a Jack’s Mannequin-esque vibe when considering the vocal melody and the overall darkness of the song. Sort of a song about struggle, there was still optimistic messages conveyed through the chorus. While I don’t think the song sounds technically as good as some of the others, it was still charming and very expressive. Not to mention I could hardly recognize Andrew McMahon’s role but still a very nice listen.
New York is my favourite track from this EP, and gets me really excited to hear more from TAI. The tragic verse leading into the emotional and somewhat nostalgic chorus gets me every time. Not to mention the title of EP originates from the lyrics in this song. I thought the guitar melody was very retro and euphoric, perfectly complimenting the rest of the track. The songs on this EP always seem to promote a sense of urgency, and an overall climatic approach to music. Such is the case with this track; it feels almost like a musical score for a major motion picture.
The Academy Is… strays away from the genre that it’s classified in, but still remains at the top. There style is something that has yet to be truly replicated, but it still ready for mainstream success. It is their originality and unique talents that have made them so successful. Besides being on a premier label (FBR), they are also well respected by their peers. I’m glad they released Lost In Pacific Time, even though their style is very much similar to Fast Times At Barrington High. It’s an EP that proves their relevancy and further solidifies the quality of their music.
Check out their Myspace for more info.
Destroyer – Bay of Pigs EP Review
I’ve had a hard time “getting” Destroyer aka Dan Bejar’s band (Swan Lake, New Pornographers, Hello Blue Roses etc). I had a lot of trouble with Trouble In Dreams the first go around and while it sounds better now, I figure that I would stay away from his “Bay of Pigs” EP because as much as I like being challenged by music… it’s quite strenuous. Anyway I somehow got pushed into checking out the 13 minute and 39 second track and “Wow” could be one word to describe it.
Some tracks are long and drawn out once they hit the 5 minute mark. One hand, I feel like I would be annoyed at the pretentiousness that is a 13 minute track but there’s nothing pretentious about Dan Bejar. Bay of Pigs is spacey, well paced and on another level rich in awesomeness. The beginning starts off slow and relaxing and just hits the right notes.
A good 13 minute song is a song that doesn’t feel that long. I remember trying to listen to Lindstrom (sorry I will never like him) and his 20 minute tracks felt like 2 hours. Dan Bejar does this brilliantly.
With just two tracks and with 20 minutes to work with, The Bay of Pigs EP is excellent. I have no idea how to explain why I’m loving this and not struggling with it at all but maybe I’ve turned a corner? Who knows sometimes music plays funny tricks on me and I just will never “get” something as much as I try to tell my brain to. Thankfully my brain just loves this EP and I’m at a loss for real words to explain how GREAT the first track is.
I’m not sure I dig the second track as much and it’s another long song at 8 minutes. I think the problem with “Ravers” is that it has no chance competing against the title track. Most tracks wouldn’t stand a shot. It isn’t as good but it’s actually pretty good if I could lose the temptation of flipping to the next track.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Maybe we’re being spoiled with an EP like this. I can’t help but think why this isn’t on an album but alas I’ll take it 
.
I’m a bit hesitant to host a song like Bay of Pigs on here (31 MB). But it’s a track you have to at least try to listen to. So check it out (until I get ask to take it down I guess…):
Said The Whale – The Magician EP Review
It’s not a big secret that some of us here at AWMusic love Said The Whale. So you can imagine how enthused I was when they released their EP The Magician on 7” vinyl in July. It didn’t arrive on my doorstep until the end of August, but it was well worth the wait. The four track EP elevates from their debut album; Howe Sounds/Taking Abalonia, and it maintains the intricate characteristics of freedom and harmony that make their music so memorable.
The opening track ‘The Magician (Camilo)’ starts off the much like This City’s a Mess did. Great rhythm, that’s fast, free, and upbeat. The lyrics just beckon you to sing along with them with a chorus like “Camilo I need to see where you made that car go – cause I got some questions about the world I know and about the difference between real and show Camilo”. The following track ‘Love is Art / Through the Fire’ is a soft ballad of love that really takes flight at 1:46 mark. The vocal harmony compliments the message in the song beautifully.
Side B has its own fair share of surprises. The piano in Strong Swimmers takes a slight step to the background and sounds less prevalent as it did in earlier tracks. The space between the acoustic and electric guitars is seamless. They blended nicely. This leads to the final track and also my personal favourite, ‘Upset Her’. It could be that I can relate to the material personally, it could be that it’s a melancholic song wrapped up in a positive message, or it could be none of those things. The undeniable quality is an unexplainable one. It felt like magic and put a smile on my face.
The Magician EP continues the soft indie charm that Said The Whale has. It’s not over produced yet you can hear the quality and the love involved. This is far from a four track throwaway. Only one out of the four songs will be appearing on their new album releasing this October, Islands Disappear. The other three are limited to this release – so if you’re a fan there is no excuse why you cannot lend an ear. There really is nothing more I can say that has not been iterated already, get this album.
MP3:
Said The Whale – The Magician (Camilo)
Buy at:
More info:
pop-machine.ca / Myspace / Facebook / Flickr
Cassiorossi: DON’T FORGET TO DIE EP
Cassiorossi - DON'T FORGET TO DIE EP
If you are reading this post and it is not a Saturday, either you have scrolled down past some other posts you may or may not have been interested in enough to actually read or the editors have made some creative changes to my contributing schedule. Either way, as a seeker of music on the internet, chances are your attention span for articles about new bands is short, and your demand for immediacy is high.
Look no further than New York punks Casiorossi. Three appropriately-named (Ethan Bassford on bass) Brooklyn lads who don’t play pop songs so much as coerce them from their instruments through brute force. Their primitive approach to recording at first calls to mind similarly-minded noisepoppers like Dinosaur Jr or perhaps a stripped-down Titus Andronicus; however their juxtaposition of youthful passion and youthful resignation puts them more in line with the young Archers of Loaf, and these guys have way more hooks than being compared to any other band could suggest. The best part? The band makes a profoundly excellent statement in under ten minutes. More than most of us can say, right?
Download the EP here. Only $3 US.
Cassiorossi – Ode to Restraint
Cassiorossi MySpace
Cooling Pie Records
Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Higher Than The Stars EP
“No secret’s too safe, and how you can’t stay, higher than the stars.”
When Pains’ first song came out I remember my attention was caught first, by the name, and second, by the sound. One of their first hits, “Young Adult Friction” captures the soul by its retro snappy charm. Their self titled album does not fail to amaze either. Recently as well, they have been holding down their reputation with the new EP Higher Than The Stars.
Listening to their very own single “Higher Than The Stars” first, my foot tapped instantly while Kip Berman’s voice flowed smoothly. The mellow, perfectly toned voice that carries the band is still evident, while not distracting from the authentic sounds in the background with the hint of a small pop beat to carry the retro indie sounds. It’s one of those songs, if used at the perfect time, can create the best part in an entire movie. It’s a wonderful power I love to be seen used, comparable to the use of “Just Like Heaven” in the movie Adventureland. The remix of this song is just as pleasant, except with a more contemporary feeling that does quite show the band’s personality, but it’s worth the listen.
The last three songs, “103,” “Twins,” and “Falling Over” are worthy of the same discussion as “Higher Than The Stars.” We hear the same vibe, same tone, but I can’t help feeling like it’s something different each time, but it’s not anything I can explain. In all, the EP is definitely worth the pick up, to listen to on any type of occasion. Today- it’s on a rainy day. I like rainy days.
Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Higher Than The Stars
Pains of Being Pure at Heart – 103
The Wilderness of Manitoba – Hymns of Love and Spirits
Last fall, Nov. 3 to be exact, I reviewed an EP called Iron Ponies by Toronto band Provincial Parks. It was an album that had gorgeous harmonies, catchy choruses, and an aesthetic that said to me, if these guys catch a few breaks they are going to be the next John Mayer (in group form). Of course, that didn’t happen…
What did happen, according to the guys at herohill, was the passing of Will Whitwham’s mother and the formation of the Wilderness of Manitoba. The Wilderness of Manitoba, which, as far as I know, contains roughly the same group of people as Provincial Parks, was obviously hit hard by the passing of Whitwham’s mom and the music of Provincial Parks turned from the upbeat, sunny, we wanna score chicks like John Mayer sort of sound, to something decidedly more somber.
Yes, decidedly more somber, but also absolutely stunning. After listening to this album a staggering number of times since receiving it on Monday I’ve come to the conclusion that Hymns of Love and Spirits is a combination of the best parts of two of last year’s breakout bands, Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver. The foxes-esque 4 part vocal harmonies are apparent from right out of the gate, but its the Bon Iver-esque strain and heartache that lingers under the surface through those harmonies that makes them meaningful… all those emotions that come from the heartbreak of losing a loved one are palpable.
If there’s a bright side to all of this, its that the music that has emerged from the pain is something the likes of which I haven’t heard this year. I’m thinking we might have a new front runner for Best Album of 2009…
[mp3] The Wilderness of Manitoba – Evening
[mp3] The Wilderness of Manitoba – Manitoba
Friday Night Fever – TGIF!
Friday Night Fever is yet another electronic pop band that thrills audiences with high energy and stellar performances. Their release of TGIF! earlier this summer brought attention to this highly regarded unsigned band. Despite their indie status, they are well on their way to main stream success, with a sound that can rival the very top disco pop bands out there. The band consists of five members from Fort Wayne Indiana and formed through two separate entities, Saving Litchfield and Nothing Less. Their merger brought to the pop scene an electrifying and crowd pleasing band, and they have only since continued to grow as musicians. While I can hardly say that the electronic pop scene is the best place to find soulful music, save for bands like Owl City, I do often find the genre to be memorable at the very least. Friday Night Fever solidifies this notion with dance like melodies and a charming swagger that is unforgettable.
TGIF! is a five track ep that contains a single new track for their previous fans, but everything on this album is new for me. There are a couple of key elements that I think gives this band some clear advantages over others in the genre. Besides the stimulating mix of synthetic sounds and grungy instrumentals, which seem to be a staple in any electronic band, their vocals also add serious flavour to the mix. Friday Night Fever utilises a fast paced vocal style, very similar to that of Forever The Sickest Kids. Besides having a voice that seems natural to pop rock in general, the delivery gives off the kind of charm and energy you want out of a band like this. Oh She’s So Mischievous, their new single, is a great example of this. Without looking for too much out of the track, you still end up getting your worth with what’s available. I personally look for great presence, a charming sound, and to put it bluntly, entertaining music, which this song absolutely reflects. The clever timing of the electronically-produced vocal work, extravagantly orchestrated keys, and hard hitting bass are all little things that combine for an explosive sound.
Oh She’s So Mischievous is followed by Glamour Kills, which happens to be a much more intimate track. The vocals and lyrics are specifically the pieces that add to the emotional aspects of this song, but it is still a far cry from something truly meaningful. While there are definitely some heartfelt aspects to the track, and the pace is considerably slowed to meet these requirements, I still found it more of a “lovey dovey,” track than anything substantial. That said, it still excels as an exciting and catchy tune by most powerpop standards. Using a light dose of electronic funk and the light addition of backup vocals, it mimicked and even achieved in some regard the emotional touch lacking in other tracks.
Undercover Lovers is somewhat of a similar affair, but continues to rely on the heavy electronics. The intro reveals one of the catchiest and inspired melodies I’ve heard from an electropop band. The keys, guitar, bass and drums matched up very well together. The chorus is also one of the most pop-oriented, being undeniably memorable and entertaining. The final two tracks are much more of the same entertaining tracks.
Friday Night Fever is something fresh to the scene, why it has taken me so long to find the EP is a mystery. The composition of their music is always just right, despite it being very forward and heavy in sound. There is a lot to hear from these guys, and it’s never a dull moment during their tracks. While the overall sound of this EP is so devilishly electronic, they also try to incorporate the common themes of love and lust through their vocals and words. Obviously it doesn’t come off as something extremely touching, but it’s more geared towards the teenage soul, a guilty pleasure of mine. So there is a touch of emotion that elates the music, and yet at the same time it’s always amazingly entertaining.
Check out their Myspace for more info.
Azeda Booth – Tubtrek EP
Back in March Azeda Booth released a free eight song EP called ““Tubtrek”. The EP starts out with four brand new songs, followed by four remixes. The new original songs all have Jordon Hossack high pitched vocals, matched with an enchanting mix of keyboard sounds. While the four remixes take their past popular songs and glitch them up with splashes of ambient sounds added. The remixes are definitely the best part of this EP. Making songs like In Red and Big Fists, completely unlike the original versions from their first album “In Flesh Tones”. One Remix that is pretty amazing is “In Red (goodhands team)” because of the mixes concentration on a single line from the original song. The use of this one line continuously with the addition of a more fast paced beat makes the song hard to get away from.
Azeda Booth – In Red (goodhands team mix)
Azeda Booth – Well (refilled and set in sand)
Azeda Booth – Fiji Inn Hearts
Darlings Of Chelsea – The Mimico Sessions EP Review
Toronto indie punk rockers Darlings Of Chelsea have released their debut EP “The Mimico Sessions” using a tried, tested, and true formula for successful rock. Nothing revolutionary here, but it does delve into that raw energy effectively. The first track ‘I Want Your Love’ sounds like an anthem for tension release. It’s fast and precise with a give-and-go melody switching between guitar riffs. Lead singer of the band Sean Robertson has a voice that’s rough yet forgiving at times. He reminds me of the Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl.
The Mimico Sessions feels like it’s trying to achieve two very different things. Some songs exemplify the band’s attempt to make on-air radio friendly rock, while others demonstrate the roots of the band and its members – a more grungy grated sound. For that reason it’s difficult to peg a single definitive song that represents the whole. The former hits the detailed aspects to their music lyrically and with decent supporting vocals heard in songs like ‘I Want Your Love’ and ‘Helsinki’. The latter is more raw and unrestrained in ‘Sleazy Rock’n’Roller’ and ‘The Devil is a Woman’.
While the album doesn’t bring anything new to the genre in terms of its music, it didn’t sound like it necessarily had to. Darlings Of Chelsea have a clear idea of where they stand and what they wish to achieve with their music. Their sound is driven by the love of classic iconic rock and the idea that rock isn’t dead. This perspective has yielded a good debut that stays focused in style and delivery. It’ll be interesting to see how this perspective will translate into a future LP.
MP3:
Darlings Of Chelsea – I Want Your Love
Darlings Of Chelsea – Devil is a Woman
Buy at:
More info:
Dark Mean – Frankencottage EP
Canadian music has been gaining in popularity over the years, especially in the indie scene. Canadian bands like Arcade Fire, Tokyo Police Club and Islands have been replacing the notion that Canada only produces stuff like Nickelback. But it is especially heartwarming when bands can get that really Canadian sound into their music, and Hamilton’s Dark Mean did that with their EP Frankencottage.
I don’t really know how to put it into words apart from saying the EP sounding Canadian, much the same way a Sam Roberts album does. But Frankencottage’s sound isn’t too much like Sam Roberts, with a sound much closer to Islands or Tokyo Police Club. In the title track of Frankencottage the vocals sound almost identical to that of Dave Monks of Tokyo Police Club. But instead of having that repetitive sound that Tokyo police Club album would have they keep it interesting with every song being able to stand out.
Their ability to make each song stand out is one of the best things about the album, even with the EP only having four songs on it. They also make use of various instruments like banjo and slide guitar as opposed to sticking to the guitar bass drums model. Yet they are good to not overuse them, making sure to only use them when necessary to add power to a song. And this works crazy well for them especially in the track Lullaby where they create a fantastic build up to the climax of the song. The build-ups are also great in the album, with fantastic builds and drops that seem so smooth and natural, which is something that there really isn’t enough of right now.
Overall it is an amazing album, probably one of the best of the year. The best part is you can download the whole album for free as well from their website. I would highly recommend doing that as these guys are absolutely amazing, and it wont be long before you are hearing a lot more about them.
Dark Mean – frankencottage
Dark Mean – Lullaby
