Portland – Author and music aficionado Nick Hornby (“High Fidelity”) wrote that musicians often have two options while crafting their songs. One way is to create something so weird that nobody has ever done it before, but does not warrant a second listen. Alternatively, “You (can) think, write, play, and sing as though you have the right to stand at the head of a long line of cool people.”
You Blew It! fall into the latter category. Though there are sounds reminiscent of those who came before them in their work, the familiarity does not feel tired or overdone, but rather earned through careful study and practice. The band’s latest EP, Pioneer of Nothing (on Topshelf Records), is no exception to this trend. A short but musically and emotionally resonant work, it showcases the strengths of You Blew It! over three engaging tracks that will win over new fans and tide old ones over til their next release.
The Orlando-based band claims to have been influenced by the emo and indie bands of the 00s, and this is immediately noticeable in the EP’s instrumentals. Reminiscent of early career Silverstein, the blend of clean tones and polite, fuzzy distortion compliments the vocals well and makes each song instantly listenable.
It is refreshing to hear a band from a genre that became associated in the mainstream with guttural screams, breakdowns, and massively distorted guitars not rely on any of those techniques that so often become overused gimmicks. Instead, You Blew It! utilize sparseness to great effect on Pioneer of Nothing, creating an overall more mellow sound that avoids becoming wearisome or dull.
When the louder guitars and quicker drumbeats are used, it enhances the listening experience rather than becoming simply a wall of fast, incomprehensible noise. This can be heard on the opening track “Lanai.” The band carefully maintains a balance between soft and loud, never letting one overpower the other, and allowing the instruments to rise and fall with the energy and emotion of the song’s lyrics.
The words that accompany the instrumentals are another high point of Pioneer of Nothing. You Blew It! have penned a collection of subtle, melancholy, and heartfelt lyrics that will take many listens to digest and analyze fully. Topics range from accepting that time will not heal a broken relationship to enduring uncomfortable and stressful situations to be with someone, making the subject matter of the EP relatable to a wide audience.
One of the few downsides to Pioneer of Nothing is the tendency for the lead singer to occasionally slur and mumble, a habit that makes a few too many appearances to be completely overlooked. This is unfortunate, since when the vocals are clear and easy to understand, the listening experience is greatly enhanced. Fortunately, You Blew It! combat this weakness with intriguing melodies and plenty of “whoa’s” sung by the whole band (a tactic used on “Bedside Manor”), both of which help maintain the listener’s attention.
Despite this drawback, Pioneer of Nothing is a well-executed release from a young, exciting act. You Blew It! prove that familiarity, when backed by strong songwriting, can be a powerful force, and these traits will hopefully translate into continued excellence and longevity for the band.
Check out You Blew It ! on iTunes, Facebook and Twitter, and catch the band on their North American tour with Tiny Moving Parts and Rozwell Kid before continuing in Europe and the U.K. supporting The Early November.
Jack Butcher
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