A Lifelike Story - Flowers for Wednesday EP
Record Label: None
Release Date: July 2008
Who?
This trio from New Jersey gives the alternative rock world its first recorded effort with Flowers for Wednesday. The band currently does not have a drummer, but their female vocal-driven music comes across as professional, polished, and dangerously catchy.
How is it?
The guitar riff that opens up their first track, "Dawn of Disaster," fools the listener into thinking they're in for a Thrice-like endeavor. The song takes an interesting, albeit strong, turn when the low and sultry sound of vocalist Taylor Ruggieri smooths over the music. Starting off with a ballad may be a peculiar choice, particularly on a band's first record, but A Lifelike Story make it work and reel the listener into their 4-track adventure.
Ruggieri's Juliet Simms-esque (Automatic Loveletter) pipes take over the entire recording, leaving much more to be desired from guitarist Bryan Welsh and bassist Garrett Hoffman. The boys' instrumental talents sound promising, particularly in the breakdown of the track "All Things Considered," but it seems as if the band made a collective decision to play it safe the first time around. Still, the male-female harmony between Welsh and Ruggieri keep the record from falling completely flat and allow every song to retain a separate identity.
After the initial track, A Lifelike Story can best be described as on the order of The Morning Of, circa 2006, particularly during the chorus of their first single "We've Got The Night."
The EP closes out with the song "Never Been Better," which plants a more aggressive vibe, both musically and lyrically, offering affirmations such as, "It's over/Never been better/Since you left me..." The reverb sprinkled in this track gives the EP just a little more depth and maturity before leaving the listener. All in all, Flowers for Wednesday is a solid debut album and A Lifelike Story show great promise for the future.
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