Review Summary: Is less more?
Self-awareness is a factor that isn’t highly judged in the music world. With bands all around the world practicing different genres and sounds, they all eventually look at themselves; and truly see what they are. There are bands that gain a large recognition for their specific sound, and then build off of that recognizing sound that their fans will continuously buy into. Bands like this, cash into the audience and stop creating music they like, but what the people like. Then there are bands like Snowing, which don’t have a tsunami of teenage girls following their every move, but dedicated thoughts which allow them to create an album they want.
The beauty of this album revolves around how self-aware the band is through each song. There is no skyscraper high production value to be held here, which makes the music sound gritty and overall sloppy. The drums will do their own thing every once and a while, and the vocalist spouts subjective lyrics all around the album. Yet, it’s hard not to enjoy it for what it really is, and that is an underground emo-punk EP. This isn’t some best-selling Taking Back Sunday album, or some overly produced pop album. This is an album that would not be highly recognized or appreciated, and the band knows it themselves. It’s like that art project you made in your elementary school class. You aren’t the most glorified artist in your class, and others will most likely pass by your project and call it crap, but you still smile at it and call it yours. You like it, so why does it matter if others don’t?
The music here is punk/emo at a very interesting level. The album feels like it was produced in a garage, and it retains a lot of qualities that a garage band would you to enhance their sound. A lot of cymbal crashes, a long stream of singular guitar notes, and personal lyrics that the vocalist will appreciate the most. The musical structure of each song is relatively different, providing a new experience as each two minute song passes. There are some extremely well done breakdowns to be heard on this album, especially the one found on “Important Things”. Near the end of the song, the vocalist starts to shout “Why can’t I, see the sunspots, in your eyes?”. The instruments play along perfectly, the drums crash down barbarically and the guitars elegantly bounce along. The lyrics are spot on for the sound. Most deal with intense anger or depression, while others stand on a thin line of emotional solitude. However, I find that vulgar language is used a little extensively, which makes some lines sound a little unintelligent and dull.
This is a great release from a band that not too many have heard about it. It’s raw and sloppy punk at its finest. While it may seem short, the replay value is excellent as there are plenty of tracks that may get you hooked on the first listen. Lyrics are personal yet memorable, instrumentation is harmonic and excellent, and the production values can go to hell. Give this is a listen, and if you love raw and uncooked punk, then you may fall in love.
