Review by Shannon Shumaker
Denver pop-punk band If I Fail have released their new EP, Undesirable, an energetic, personal and timeless taste test of new songs. These five tracks, although brief, allow for self-exploration lyrically while the band showcases the diversity of their own unique sound. From the high energy title track to the vulnerable, “Loud And Clear,” there’s a little something for everything on this EP.
Undesirable kicks off with “The Path To Paradise Begins In Hell,” the dramatic, theatrical intro. The thunder, rain and dark sounds on this song don’t necessarily fit the upbeat vibe of the following title track, but that’s definitely easy to overlook once it kicks in. “Undesirable” is a perfect example of what can be found on the EP. Catchy guitar work compliments the emotional, passionate vocals on this track, which is rounded out by complex (but not over the top) drum fills.
“Love Not The World” is just the progression that you’ll find yourself hoping for when “Undesirable” comes to an end. Unlike many pop-punk bands who tend to rely on repetitive, upbeat songwriting patterns, If I Fail immediately shakes things up with this more intense track. “Love Not The World” has everything you want a pop-punk song to have: catchy guitar hooks, memorable lyrics and gang vocals to round things out at the end. In fact, the vocal work alone on this track is some of the most impressive on the EP. By the time “Love Not The World” comes to an end, you’ll find yourself wondering how the band is going to top it, then they throw you through another loop with the emotional acoustic track, “Loud And Clear.”
Although “Loud And Clear” doesn’t pack the energetic punch that “Undesirable” and “Love Not The World” do, lyrically it’s one of the most powerful and personal songs on the EP. Even though some momentum might be lost with this slower song, it offers listeners a different side of If I Fail before the end of the EP, and one that they excel at. The energy then kicks back in one song later for the guitar driven, “Say Hello To Johnny Cut-Corners” before “The Sweetest Kiss” ends things on a high note, but still leaves you longing for more.
The sounds found on Undesirable might not be those of a typical pop-punk bands, but that’s what makes it a must-listen. These songs are timeless, catchy as hell and most of all, incredibly personal and relatable.
LISTEN TO: “Love Not The World”
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