Since the earliest days of guitar music, there have been people trying to convince us that pop-rock must embrace wild experimentation, harsh tones and difficult-to-grasp artistic visions. But, how many people still listen to those sorts of sounds?
Yes, every new generation embraces some musicians who create pop tracks inspired by abstract and avant-garde concepts. Each new generation helps strange, distorted sounds become a trend. But just how long do they last in the imagination of the public?
On the other hand, the pop-rock anthems popular in the 1990s and 2000s are still being sung by younger generations. neptune blood take a queue out of those books for “A Quiet Riot Inside” EP.
That’s not to say, however, that everything is hunky dory, or that the band purposely ignores inner and outer conflicts on this four-song collection. On the contrary, neptune blood makes arena pop anthems about facing demons and having the confidence that you’ll overcome.
Just listen to the opening track, the slick “Midnight Showing.” Sure, there’s melancholy in this song about chasing fame and ending up disappointed with the dreams that come true. Still, there’s also a real hopefulness to the sound of the single, which is the result of clever orchestration and of years spent toiling away on the local Irish scene.
“Best Laid Plans” is also designed and produced to sound like the music that plays over a muscle car commercial. It’s a big sound, alright, but the lyrics, once again, speak of plans going awry and about the weight of expectation.
But if this is a band at the end of its rope, you certainly can’t tell from the energy of the music. “In Calico” brings to mind bands like The Vaccines or The Maccabees, masters of bouncy grooves blended with bittersweet melodies. “In Calico” is also the most expansive-sounding track on the EP, with Summery horns blending with shimmering, echo-drenched guitars.
Finally, “Huge If True” brings the horns back in, but the Sun’s already dimmed. On the last track of the EP, the band takes the risk of combining 80s pop-style dynamics, perfectly tuned harmonies, and vocals that move from reciting stories at top speeds to lazily singing about fading youth and inevitable soul storms. It’s the best track on the record.
Where does it leave us? Fighting off doubts, perhaps, but with neptune blood’s help, also, stuck with a big melody in our heads.
Social media links
