Three track EP
By Surprise's Criteria EP opens with the eponymous title track and what a great tune it is - sweetly melodic, holding a raw chugging from the guitar and an enticing off kilter vocal delivery. The sound from the off is distinctly of the now (fitting nicely with the latest batch of emo tinged indie coming out of the US) but it also holds a hazy nostalgia in its delivery - a laid back 90s indie vibe meanders underneath it all, hinting at Pavement and the crunchy guitars of Dinosaur Jr. - it sounds like the kind of tune that may have appeared on Pete and Pete in its heyday. Wear That Crown continues this feel; a great melody sucks you in and the scuzzy production is spot on, livening up the sound nicely.
EP closer Way To Be Tall is my least favourite of the three - it's still pretty good but doesn't end the EP on the strongest note which is a shame, while the previous two tracks blend together old and new sounds to great effect this one wears its influences on it's sleeve a little too obviously, overall though a release that will be getting multiple plays from us.