Review Summary: Well-made, but ultimately run-of-the-mill indie-pop. Give it a pass.
Whether large recording companies and top-selling artists like it or not, the Internet and its possibilities have revolutionized the music world. And not just in a negative sense, either - while illegal downloads can be harmful if abused (at least to the profits of large recording companies), the Internet has opened up new possibilities for aspiring new artists, and even changed the way in which established ones sell their product.
A good example of such changes is the death of the single. As early as ten years ago, recording artists put out small "sample"-type records featuring the leading track from their newest albums, plus a couple of outtakes or alternate version which legitimized the release and made the investment worthwhile. In their emblematic slim jewel cases, singles were particularly popular in the radio-pop world, as they were the casual music listener's best friend: one could have that one song he liked from the radio without having to shill out for a full release which, more often than not, ended up disappointing anyway. However, with the turn of the millenium, the physical single began to slowly fade away, gradually being overtaken by the ever-growing Internet and sites like Napster, mp3.com and, especially, iTunes. Nowadays, recording companies and artists just choose to make their previews available on iTunes or MySpace, often even allowing free download as a way to attract new listeners, and the single as we once knew it is all but dead.
However, certain bands seem intent in not letting the concept die, even if they are powerless to bring back the format. Sleep Parade seem to be part of that group, as their latest free release,
Mr. Identify EP, has all the trappings of what was once considered a single: it features a small number of tracks (three, in this case), which serve as advances for the new album. And, much like singles back in the day, it provides all the Sleep Parade necessary to someone who wouldn't actually be interested in getting the full album right now. Which, judging by what's contained here, is bound to be most of this EP's listeners.
In fact,
Mr. Identify EP is only marginally successful in its goal of raising interest to the new album. Previous fans of Sleep Parade are all set to buy anyway, making this a mere curiosity to add to their collection, and people who are unfamiliar with the band and their sound are bound to be left unimpressed by this three-song sample. Sure, Sleep Parade's sound is competently executed, but there is absolutely nothing to distinguish them from the myriad other melancholy indie-radio-pop bands. Effectively, it would be not only easy but accurate to place this band in the vicinity of The Fray or The Bravery: theirs are the kind of songs you expect to hear backing an episode of
Scrubs (and you probably have). What's worse, even with a short three tracks, ideas begin to repeat themselves, and while the sprightly
Mr. Identify and the melancholy
Seconds Away do raise an eyebrow, there is no excuse for the snoreworthy
Headstorm, a track exactly twice as long as it needed to be.
In the end, the impression left is one of utter mediocrity, and the listener is left wondering what is so "progressive" about these Aussies. It also doesn't bid well for the new album, which, if it follows this pattern, is bound to be ten or twelve repetitions of the exact same song. As with every free release, there is no harm in downloading this one, as you might just like it, and if you don't you can just hit "Delete"; however, there shouldn't be many people outside of the actual Sleep Parade fanbase wanting to keep this in their hard drive. Give it a pass.
Recommended Tracks
Seconds Away
Download it officially and for FREE here: www.sleepparade.bandcamp.com
