Review Summary: Strictly Business is an accurate description of a EP that, once it gets started, is not one to play around.
Reviewing local bands is tough for a few reasons.
1. You probably know them, and you'll have to know that they'll see your review and might take offense to it.
2. If you like it, it's hard to come off unbiased.
3. If you don't like it, it's hard to review at all.
Luckily, this reviewer doesn't have to worry about the 3rd reason, and hopes that the 1st reason doesn't happen.
Strictly Business has released an EP (Aptly Titled Strictly Business EP) that shows that the band has a very solid foundation. For a 5 (or 6, depending on how you look at it) song EP, It certainly covers a lot of ground sonically and lyrically. With two vocalists in the mix, you may think that they may sound like they're dueling for space in the song, but Juan Wheeler and Michael Swank complement each other, a good example of this is found in 'Penguins!' Where they scream over each other, but it never comes off as if they are competing. Both vocalists sing/scream passionately, and allow each other the spotlight. Gervin Behr and Bobby King hold the rhythm section down nicely, keeping the music together. The percussion at the end of 'Duck, Duck, Tape' is great. At times the bass feels as if it's lost in the mix of the guitars, but when its audible it makes its presence known. The guitars are something of a conundrum. Blake Shouest and Jim Cardinal do a good job of trading guitar riffs and keeping the overall sound grounded. This may do more so with the mixing than with the actual guitars. In some places on the album, the tone sounds a bit over-processed. While the riffs that are on the EP are very good, especially on 'Nice Tie, Pleh,' which even has a nice solo. But in the breakdowns is where the music suffers. They are technically sound, and executed well...they are just not all that inventive. Which is not to say they aren't enjoyable. One of the nicest surprises on the album is on 'Sophia, Get off the Roof!' where the the music is stripped down for a second which is a nice breather for an EP. Even if it is halfway through the last song.
Lyrically, the album is sound and the delivery is well executed.
It almost feels as if the listener is having a prank pulled on them. Songs like 'Nice Tie, Pleh' and 'Duck, Duck, Tape' change direction so suddenly the listener would assume (as I did once) that a new song had started. This is a good thing, it makes the EP feel longer than it actually is. The Strictly Business EP is an enjoyable EP, the music is passionate. That's basically all you need.
