Blowback sound like the band that open to others at a gig you go along to. They have that familiar sound of being tight and tidy without particularly inspiring you to tears of joy with their own particular brand of indie/emo/cliché music. This however is not necessarily a criticism. They play their music well, the vocals (on the whole) are sung to an acceptable standard and there are some lovely little harmonies thrown in as well. They are the band you like, yet are never completely won over by. And this EP is summed up by the drawl I just spluttered out, you’ll like it, but not love it.
First impressions don’t go down to well on the intro to title track ‘105 Sunset’ as the vocals seem somewhat strained, but luckily as the music kicks in we are led to a fairly upbeat number which ambles along at a slumbering rate, but is a tidy enough opening effort. ‘Darkhorse’ changes pace and style completely as it thuds along at a fair old tempo with the vocals improving distinctly on another neat, yet uninspiring trip into the realms of upbeat indie rock. Final effort ‘Blown It’ proves the saving grace however, as a darker tone takes over with the chorus standing out above the rest and is the standout track of the three.
As was mentioned in my opening gambit, Blowback don’t do a lot wrong, but may need a little extra spark to really make an impact in their form of emo rock. The songs are tidy and played well, but for the moment it feels like they are missing a vital ingredient that is needed to really give them the shove they need in the correct direction. If they are in your area however, they are well worth checking out.
Jay
www.blowbackmusic.com
