You don’t often hear the term “detail oriented” applied to rock groups; however, the members of Please Rock tackle each project with such fine-tuned attention it is no surprise that Y.O.U.’s new EP is more complicated than it first appears. The Long-Playing EP actually contains 13 tracks, 5 new and 8 bonus tracks of previously released Y.O.U. material. It is in the new tracks, which are a nice preview to their upcoming 2010 full-length album, that will leave you impressed, scratching your head, and not being able to get them out of your mind. Y.O.U.’s attention to being so vaguely detailed in their lyrics makes their songs such a joy to listen to and fun trying to decode.
On first listen, the opening track “Firefly” might come across as a delightful, childlike song about the electric bug. However, after repeated plays you discover it is actually deeper than that because it could easily be used to describe summer loves, volatile relationships, outgoing spirits, or an ode to the popular vodka by the same name. Lyrics such as: “Oh my firefly/ I wish I could light up like you,” will bring a smile due to the bounciness of the music and lyrics, but also for trying to figure out what is the true reference.
Nicholas Niespodziani’s clear vocals also help to objectively deliver each track and further add to the solving the mystery. “Going Down Swinging” seems like it should be about standing by a relationship; however, the word “love” is never actually sang. Instead lyrics like: “Storms like these have tried to knock out our city/ but our power never came from our walls” make the song a fitting revolutionary call. While lyrics: “It’s a tough time to come up so empty/ It’s a strange time to be starting out/ but it were going/ then we’re going down heavy/ without a doubt,” can be applied to starting bands, dreams or life on ones own.
If two songs from an EP can prompt this over 350-word review, the final LP cannot come soon enough. Come check out Y.O.U. live this Saturday at Smith’s Olde Bar and pick up your very own copy of The Long-Playing EP, you won’t regret it. Mixtape Atlanta is giving away tickets to the show so send your name to [email protected].
Add this track to your Mixtape: “Going Down Swinging” makes you want to pick up a poster and rally for a cause.
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