Sunday, November 23, 2014

Runaround



As the year has progressed, several great singles and EPs have been released for which I have written reviews or should have written reviews.  I’ve waited for many of these bands to go ahead and release new full length albums before offering my thoughts, but several have not yet materialized.  So, over the next week or two, I hope to share my enthusiasm for some great singles that have come along during 2014 that I’ve neglected to share.



The Fireworks
“Runaround” 7” EP 2013
(Shelflife)

Here’s a record from late last year that I feel remiss about not sharing sooner, but it still seems like a good time, because The Fireworks just recently revealed plans for the release of their first album in early 2015, as well as issuing a little preview.  This little slab of red vinyl certainly got a lot of play around my place all year long, so it’s not as though I wasn’t aware of this record. 

The Fireworks bring the pop and the buzz in full force and this shit never gets old.  As long as I’ve been smitten with buying records, there has always been a lot of room for catchy two minute pop songs that are invigorated by sing-along melodies, limitless energy, fast drums and a healthy dose of feedback.  With “The Runaround,” The Fireworks evoke the best moments of The Primitives late 80s heyday, or perhaps Australia’s Hummingbirds.  The bulk of the song is really just a blistering fuzzy mess of buzzing guitars barely contained by vocalist Emma and the steady drums.  However, once the chorus comes along, everything blossoms, as the guitars begin to chime and some background “oohs” and “aahs” bolster the song and push it to a serious need for repeated listens.

The Fireworks "Runaround"

The first song on the flip side similarly speeds along for less than two minutes like a long lost Primitives great.  Shaun’s frantic drum work on “With My Heart” gives the guitars a bit of a reprieve until the bridge, but its Emma’s commanding vocals that make this song so great.

Lastly, this short and sweet EP closes with the lovely viola adorned “Asleep.”  This song reminds of early Creation Records bands like The Razorcuts or Emily, as well as the softest acoustic moments of The Field Mice, as guitarist Matthew sings a fragile song filled with self-sabotage as he watches his significant other drift off to sleep and wonders if they are dreaming of someone else. 

Oh, this is so damn good.  I cannot wait to hear what they have in store for us with their debut album.  Go ahead and check out their sneak peek “On and On.”




 

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