FCKING BRKLYN, your “rock” EP, shows a spark. You have the makings of a damn good bar band. Big riffs, competent drumming, etc. But something is missing.
Your Throw Away Scratch EP is a different animal. You seem to be exploring your Elliot Smith-y tendencies. The arrangements are well done. I can almost imagine Smith singing over them.
The problem is, the quieter acoustic songs bring the lyrics to the forefront.
And the lyrics? Well, they’re bad.
As I said, you guys are a good band. You obviously know your way around a song.
Listeners won’t find the alienation of failed experiments in your music; just good ol’ solid rock n’ roll. On your FCKING BRYKLYN and Throw Away Scratch EPs, you guys show that you could please audiences in both the rocking club and the coffee shop.
FCKING BRKLYN is the more aggressive of the two. Punk-tinged rock riffs propel the vocals that, while verging on whiny, are a worthy embodiment of mid-20s confusion about love.
Throw Away Scratch sees you tone it down a bit. If FCKING BRYKLYN is a Saturday night out getting “I see dead people” smashed, then Throw Away Scratch is the Sunday morning with low volumes and the shades drawn.
Y’all are a damn fine band. There’s only one thing I think needs a lot of work. The lyrics on these songs are in desperate need of some attention. The songs would go from good to great if the lyrics were used to create a picture of the song’s subject. As it is, many seem like an afterthought.
But I think you can be great. I’m hard on you because I believe in you.
