The Withers EP
The Withers
2013
[FULL DISCLOSURE: I personally know this band, as previously mentioned. I will do my best to maintain a high degree of neutrality and objectivity in this review. Read: I won't hand out a baffling and impossible gorillion/10 simply because I've gone drinking with the band. I'll try to be as unbiased as possible.]
I don't fully remember but I'm pretty sure The Withers EP was the first thing I heard. I remember being told to check the band out, I remember doing a Google search for the band, and coming across Pleas Please Me and EP on Bandcamp. I also remember that the EP was (and still is) $4 and this is where my review starts.
It really was (and still is) at least $4 on Bandcamp. Pleas Please Me was (and still is) free. I didn't care about having to pay for the EP, probably because I actually met the band and everything. And also because the frontman wasn't a cocky arrogant son of a bitch or anything. His intentions seemed purely driven by a love for music as opposed to aspiring to fame, expensive designer sunglasses (he wore some cheap ladies' sunglasses one sunny summer afternoon even though I offered to lend him my Ray-Ban Wayfarers for the day), or fat stacks.
A love of music over a love of the material.
The Withers EP is a different creature from Pleas Please Me.
For starters, the most obvious differences between the two are the way the songs sound. In terms of presentation, EP sounds much cleaner than Pleas. EP is not muddled, or overly distorted to the point of hindering the experience. The other difference is that EP is just that: an EP. With only 4 songs at under 20 minutes, it is obviously much shorter than Pleas (9 songs/35 minutes).
However, none of that really matters.
While EP is shorter, it is more focused in its assault on the senses. There is a marked degree of sophistication and maturity that is present on the record. There's more discipline and focus, and the songs are tighter in composition and presentation. There's more structure and more precision. Despite these seemingly rigid and stringent factors in place, there is still plenty of heart and fun. If anything, the structure helps the songs flow more cohesively (despite the absence of an ultimately meaningless overarching theme or narrative).
Just Like a Sin starts by mesmerizing and hypnotizing with its arpeggiating and droning, and then it just becomes something else which can only be described after listening to it (written words won't do it justice though that won't stop me from trying). You're drawn in by the arpeggiating, the steady beat of the drum, the haunting though not frightening vocals, and then the masterful manipulation of feedback (when played live it's a kazoo). After that, you're treated with a raw, aggressive, and wonderful display of talent and musical finesse through controlled and blissful sonic violence. If that makes any sense. The song ends with the listener processing what they just heard before they are treated to a song that can best be described as acerbic in that it has a relatively upbeat sound but surprisingly bleak lyrics.
Glowin' in the Dark is upbeat but not sugary if only because of its lyrics, though it should be pointed out that the lyrics aren't a disgustingly grim show of display, either. One line in particular is profound but will most likely end up being buried in the rough (but still listenable) vocals and the catchy sound. "All we are means nothing to the stars." A bit of a bummer if all you want is a sweet pop song, though you should be looking elsewhere until The Withers decide to play such sweet and sugary pop songs. Even the songs that follow (and round out the recording, respectively), which would probably be perfect as a sugary songs buck your expectations.
The same song found on Pleas is back! High Fructose Corn Syrup Blues! Only it's been reworked to demonstrate precision as well as the increase in sophistication in composition and presentation. It helps that the recording sounds clearer than on Pleas. This means that, this time, you can really hear the wailing and woe on these unconventional blues.
To finish off EP, you get a revamped and (in my opinion) improved version of the same song found on Pleas. A B or C. This time around, it's more aggressive, more ferocious, and brighter than before.
The only major flaw that EP has is that it's just that: an EP. This means that with 4 songs, the listener is left wanting more. There will be more, eventually and EP does a good job of getting you started.
Still waiting on Am I Hurting You? and Heavy is the Sound to get a proper recording and release.
Despite the precision, polish, and sheen on EP, this is no indicator that The Withers have sold out or have softened their sound. It just means that it sounds clearer and cleaner despite still being rough around the edges.
Maybe the last lines of the first song (or the first song as a whole) captures the record and sheds more light on the band.
THIS CACOPHONY IS THE EPITOME -IT SOUNDS NOTHING LIKE A SYMPHONY- IT GOES ON & ON THE SONG REMAINS A MYSTERY
8.5/10
