Review Summary: While having many catchy and interesting songs, Eulogies fall short with their sophomore release.
Naming your band Eulogies is either leading your way to acclaim or making yourself quite an easy punch line. Though thankfully for them,
Here Anonymous the bands sophomore release, is quite a solid record, so the death jokes can be kept on hold. Coming from Los Angeles Eulogies is a four piece indie band sharing the Dangerbirds record label with indie starlets the Silversun Pickups.
While
Here Anonymous starts out quite slow with tracks ‘Day to Day’ and ‘Eyes on the Prize’ which follow the generic indie rock layout, not straying outside the square and being quite boring, the third track ‘Bad Connection’ sees vocalist Peter Walker layer his vocals in a much more smother and simpler arrangement, following quite a catchy picked guitar riff and simple bass line. Whem 'Bad Connection' closes you begin to understand how Eulogies standout above other bands in this now popular genre. We then come to the much slower ‘Two Can Play’ which Walker and Nikki Monninger (Silversun Pickups) duet in one of the most sensational vocal performances you will hear for a while.
At this stage it becomes apparent that the major standout that Eulogies own is Walkers impressive vocals talent. He is not what people would say, amazing, though his style and range suit the music that the band has written perfectly. His delivery sits on the other side of sober, as he slightly slurs his phrasing, though when hitting the falsetto and vibrato parts, the name Jeff Buckley brings to mind. Walker’s vocals are unfortunately hidden within the mediocre guitar riffing, generic drumming and basic bass lines.
As the record goes on you begin to find filler song after filler song, but there are hidden gems like the Grizzly Bear influenced ‘This Fine Progression’ containing upbeat guitar riffs and catchy chorus lines. ‘The Fight (I’ve Come to Like)’ - being the best song on the album - at last shows of the variety the band can bring, with neat guitar work and clever keyboard sections, making you believe that Eulogies are starting to understand the correct formula for indie music. Though as the record end is slows down, and undoes all the good work the more upbeat tracks created. The songs begin to blend and sound very similar, its like the band attempted to try everything to see what would stick with the listener.
While
Here Anonymous has some very strong standout moments, it is let down with similar and generic indie songs. The Eulogies haven’t dug a grave for themselves yet with this sophomore release though they are in danger of falling 6 feet under if their next release isn’t impressive.
