Review Summary: Does what it says on the tin... really well
Considering it a taste of their upcoming debut record later this year,
Seaway's new acoustic EP is nothing short of brilliance. A short, sharp and sweet release featuring three endearing tracks,
Clean Yourself Up is a prime release to display how a band can grow out and expand their sound. With the new-wave pop punk landscape spewing out infantile bands left, right, and centre, the scene has become a sprawling metropolis in the last couple of years, brimming with a sometimes lurid mix of both potential, and mediocrity. Subsequent to the monolithic proportions rapidly burned into by bands such as The Story So Far, The Wonder Years, and Title Fight, the genre is arguably swiftly growing more obscure to become a notable sound within; recent births such as Neck Deep and Real Friends, for example, are part of the (increasingly rare) standouts in such a young category. Pop punk bands, such as the aforementioned Neck Deep and Real Friends, are in turn facing greater criticism each day for riding off the back of the success of sweeping bands like The Story So Far and The Wonder Years, respectively.
Seaway do not re-invent the wheel. Yet it could be argued, neither does much at all; and, moreover, that does not mean that these things are irrelevant. The most popular fallout when critiquing music is the marching statement that a record "does not do anything new". The coined term for this is 'generic'. This is a caustic approach to take when considering music - especially pop punk; and southern Ontario punk rockers Seaway more than make up for the other musical shortfalls Canada has recently offered (tributes to Bieber).
Seaway keep it simple. As a rule of thumb across their past discography, the band have not unnecessarily attempted to over-complicated their sound, playing a straightforward (and honest) brand of pop punk. Since the release of their split with close friends Safe To Say last year, Seaway have displayed a wider approach to their writing process, which sits somewhere on the border to punk. This is partially with thanks to the complimentary vocals - gruff vocalist Ryan Locke having the more edgy/punk sound, portrayed well beside 'clean' vocalist Patrick Carleton's more poppy voice. Each vocalist plays his voice well off of the back of the other, and
Clean Yourself Up is, perhaps, the sharpest example of this vocal supremacy in the band's catalogue. Track 3, "Over My Youth", is a prime example of how well the vocalists work together; harmonies supply each other well within a pleasantly catchy bridge and chorus, sporting an idyllic sing-along close. As an acoustic EP,
Clean Yourself Up triumphs grandly above last year's two-track acoustic demo. Whereas the demo was a run of the mill, albeit enjoyable acoustic venture, this three-track piece shows how in just one year, a band can vastly grow and improve upon themselves not just in song melodies, but also in structure and instrumental pieces.
Refreshing to see is the persistence of shorter songs. Many bands push themselves on to consistently create songs that pull in around the three minute mark and slightly beyond. This does not always work well and, therefore, it remains hopeful to see a group that takes into account the punk, as well as the pop. Track 2, "Puddles", is a well thought out track that acknowledges an often overlooked dichotomy in short songs - just because it is short, doesn't mean it has to be fast. Initially, "Puddles" is a gentle track that paces itself well considering it ends after 1 minute and 34 seconds. Again, this is an interesting movement when considering the sound of previous shorter songs by Seaway. In contrast, opener "Hourglass" is a solid upbeat piece including the trademark memorable hooks the band is making a name for themselves with. "Hourglass" also features some subtle yet intricate percussion layers that expand on the overall sharp performance of the introductory third. The lyrical thematics across the entire EP are a development into a more mature focus, which bodes well for Seaway's future.
To compare
Clean Yourself Up to the band's debut EP, there is marked improvement. In a mere two years, Seaway have already traversed the finding-your-feet part of their career, with a grand exhibition in refinement of sound. The mediocrity (or, perhaps, genericness) is far behind and the potential is as forthcoming as it could be. While Seaway do not contribute any avant-garde tricks towards a flagship status, they are nonetheless very much onboard with the ethos of the modern pop punk scene. Very few three-track EP's, especially acoustic, ever verge on excellence; but when taking into account the progress and attitude of Seaway,
Clean Yourself Up falls nowhere near short of the grade. Without being groundbreaking, the EP comes as close to a fresh sound as can be. Clocking in at 7 minutes,
Clean Yourself Up is an EP that does not overstay its welcome and, consequently, earns itself several play-throughs at the very least. Up and coming does not suffice as a preface for Seaway - a band looking set to follow in the career footsteps of titans such as Man Overboard.
In a genre oozing with vapid attempts, Seaway come out in the top percentage, with ever-increasing strength. 2013 will be a big year for both pop punk newcomers and genre giants, and if they continue to play their cards right, Seaway are sure to become the latter through precise division of the former. To re-iterate the opening statements of paragraphs two and three, although simple, Seaway play from strength to strength, writing and performing so solidly that they evade genericness by a mile, and mediocrity by ten. Small though it may be,
Clean Yourself Up is not a 2013 release to miss out on, and is a wonderful set-piece introduction for what is sure to be a monolithic debut later on this year. Keep an eye out.
