Reviewing music can be challenging – sometimes having to put a positive spin on a quite average piece of work. Trying hard not to quash people’s dreams and belittle all their hard work, just because the reviewer himself does not like that particular brand of music.
Then an EP like Smudge’s ‘Stay Feel Regret,’ is inserted into the CD drive. The review of THIS piece is going to be equally challenging… but for a different reason altogether! How to avoid being too gushing; from being too prone to hyperbole!
Sometimes the reviewer has to succumb to the challenge!
From the first notes of opening track ‘Flat-Line,’ it is obvious that Smudge are no run-of-the-mill band. Strong, bold vocals are backed by drums, passionately pounded alongside a thumping and driving bass-line, razor-edged confident guitar and melodic, anthemic “woah-a-woah” backing chants.
Apparently Wigan’s chosen five all met at school where they formed a band after meeting Blink 182 after one of their idols’ gigs. They started out playing bad Blink covers, but though they now sound as much like their early heroes as Tom DeLonge plays guitar like Hendrix, it is quite obvious that the influence still lingers – and especially so in the second, and title track, ‘StayFeelRegret.’
Vocally, parallels could be drawn with Jimmy Eats World – with balls! This track could quite easily be blasting the speakers of Chevrolets up and down the east coast of the States. And why not the West and Central areas as well, while we’re at it.
‘Lock + Load’ follows the same formula, and closes the EP. More rock than punk, there is certainly an American vibe to all three tracks, but whilst our transatlantic cousins often stand accused of sugar coating their Rock music in a soft, twee outer shell, Smudge certainly have no case to answer.
Generically – yes, it’s all been done before. Question is – has it been done so well?
StayFeelRegret is released on 22nd September 2008.