ABOVE THE UNDERGROUND - EP review added 3rd December 2010
EP Review: The Fight We Won EP (2010)
For fans of: Alt Pop Punk... and Synth's
Cheshire, UK, act Above The Underground - Will Kirkman on vocals and guitar, Al Kirkman on guitar, Nick Barlow on bass, Joey Everson on keys, and Brandon Icely on drums - formed in 2008, and had their debut EP out by the end of 2009.
The Fight We Won is the follow-up, and it sees the band continuing the sound they created on the debut, albeit in more refined form. That sound is keyboard driven punky-pop-rock with occasional nods to metalcore and the dance-edge of success-chasing bands like Pendulum.
Good:
This is a bright spunky EP with, regardless of the lyrics, a feelgood vibe running through it. The musicianship is decent enough, and the production isn't 'alf bad. The EP suggests this'll be an energetic band on the live stage.
Not So Good:
The vocals aren't terrible, but there's nothing to lift them above merely average - and they certainly aren't very 'rock'. The arrangements aren't great, and I remain unconvinced by the majority of dance-synth/rock crossovers. This one is no different. There isn't a lot on the EP that's massively original - you'll feel like you've already heard it a thousand times the first time you hear it.
The Songs:
None of the tracks really stand out. The keyboards in 'We Are The Party (Anthem)' are probably the most standout feature. The remaining entries are nice enough, but don't stick in the mind.
In Summation:
This is a reasonable release, but the guys will need to up their game if they want to produce a quality LP at some point in the future. Still, wouldn't mind seeing them live though.
Entertainment/Enjoyment:
Musicianship:
Vocals:
Song Writing:
Production:
Overall:
Check out... The band live.
Track List:
01. Something For The Weekend (Intro)
02. Ordinary
03. Yours Sincerely
04. We Are The Party (Anthem)
05. The Fight We Won
Artist's website(s): MySpace
