In just the span of an EP, The Bracelets make the most of every square inch of music. Subtle nods to every indie rock success and failure weave effortlessly into the band's self-titled slice of musicdom. And due to the list of influences (too numerous to list) heard throughout the five tracks, what I hear and what others will likely hear are going to vastly differ.
The EP's opener, "Tug of War Match," begins on strong footing. The track propels itself towards indie rock bliss with guitar playing matching the intensity of The Strokes' or Interpol's first albums, but the playful glockenspiel, calculated slide guitar, and muted energy turn what could be a balls-to-the-wall rocker into an upbeat slow-burner. Eventually the track decomposes into traditional alt-country””beauty held prisoner beneath layers of sad disposition. The song ultimately reflects the song's apropos title.
The Bracelets follow the yin and yang of "Tug of War Match" with the lackadaisical indie pop of "Cubicle City," which is happiest when speaking about ecology and escaping the rat race of city life. The same muted, rushed guitar flows throughout this track, but the melody is more playful and optimistic. The melancholy drone bleeding through "Make!" is the kinfolk of lazy Sonic Youth. The track would be a great change-up if it only lasted for two or three minutes, but that it challenges the 7-minute mark without coming up for air turns a fun instrumental into a predictable mess.
It's always a challenge passing judgment on a band with just five songs at hand, and although there's something left to be desired, The Bracelets has crafted a rough draft that is more than passable on its own merit. The job of an EP is to close a chapter in a band's musical life, or serve as the opening statement of the sound to come. Thankfully The Bracelets' EP is the beginning of something much larger and much brighter. A full-length release will yield all the answers we seek, but until then it's easy to sit back and enjoy what's blaring out of your speakers courtesy of an EP.
1. Tug of War Match
2. Cubicle City
3. Miki's Song
4. Make!
5. CRT
More about: The Bracelets
