Labels: Jade Tree Records
Review by: Andy Malcolm
As far as I can tell, I am the only person left in the entire world that still likes the Promise Ring. Well, not quite, but almost. So this CDEP is a god-send to the dedicated P-Ring loving fool, 4 new songs of their exquisite Davey fronted pop music. And that’s where it lies I feel. Maybe if someone else wrote lyrics for this band, if someone else did lead vocals, there is a fair chance I’d prefer the Get Up Kids. Which would be quite a thing for me to admit these days. But it’s Davey. No-one else in the entire world would *dare* to write a song with these lyrics:
“I live on a small street, with very small shoes, but in a big house, with a big wardrobe”
I’m sure I remember my mother telling me this nursery rhyme when I was 3. It’s a far cry from hardcore huh? And that’s why they win.
Split this EP into 2 basically. There are the two awesome tracks, those being “Strictly Television” and “Make Me A Mixtape”, and the two good tracks, those being “Electric Pink” and “American Girl v.01”. “Electric Pink” kicks things off in a distinctly poppy fashion, would fit in well on the last CD. Following that is “Strictly Television” which rips it’s verse part straight out of “Why Did We Ever Meet” and makes it slightly poppier. That repetetive riff just tears through my head and then they kick into the chorus and straight away I know this song will live in my head for the forseeable future. Greatness. “the world is round, i talk in circles”. And lyrically it’s about wanting to be great at sports, rock on. The song mentions two McGee’s. Max, the Green Bay Packer backup WR who spent a night on the tiles before having an amazing game in the first ever superbowl. And Willie. Refused to ever retire from baseball. ‘Till last year. “American Girl” is mid-paced, upbeat college rock, and a huge improvement on the original version from the “Boys and Girls” EP. Strumtastic. “Make Me A Mixtape” wanders in at the end like a missing song from “Nothing Feels Good”, apart from some slightly ill advised backing harmonies and it’s huge pop production. Otherwise this is classic Promise Ring for the ages. Schoenbeck must have been listening to the earlier records as he’s figured out how to play bass in this band correctly at last. Phew. “make me a mixtape that makes me yours”
Hate the Promise Ring? The doctor will see you now. Love the Promise Ring? It’s your birthday.