Another of the recent Fueled By Ramen EP releases and arguably the most pointless. This four-track EP is meant to set the scene for the band’s forthcoming album, but with an acoustic track and a new version of an old song there’s only the opening track which informs us of what the band may sound like when their new album drops on FBR next year. ‘Waste Myself’ is a good song and saves this from being a total waste of time, but it seems to end rather abruptly without going to the huge crescendo you think is building up. It’s strange – but a decent effort nonetheless.
‘My Beautiful Rescue‘ has been re-recorded and is now slower and less urgent, which I hope is not a trait we can look forward to from the band in the future. It’s OK – passable, but that’s about it – and it starts this EP’s descent into mediocrity. ‘Hopeless’ is very, very standard fare and is very appropriate as a b-side, while the acoustic ‘Sand In Your Shoes’ is very much the token stripped down ballad at the end of an EP. ‘The Bright Lights‘ isn’t so much bad as it is entirely pointless, but I don’t see any kind of value for money here, even for diehard fans. I’ve learned nothing new about what the album may sound like either. Not up to This Providence‘s previous higher standards, I hope for better come the album’s release.