Spectator’s Go On EP opens with Young Love; an aptly named Punk ballad that’s just a tad bit on the nose. Musically it’s distinct enough from the other tracks, but the lead guitar mimicking the vocal melodies to the chorus is just a little too much. There’s less clever lyricism here, which ultimately hurts the track from reaching its full potential.
Prime comes next, and this track is far busier musically than its predecessor. Prime manages to say a lot more in a shorter running time, while still keeping with the strengths the band established in the EP’s opening track. The song begs the comparison to The Premier, a band composed of future members of The Wonder Years; this is definitely to Spectator’s advantage.
Fall Fades is an enjoyable Garage Punk track that manages to sound youthfully energetic while still showcasing polished musicianship and quality production. The band’s sound translates excellently for live performances. Fall Fades shows an acute level of lyrical self-awareness, playing with common Pop Punk themes while maintaining an appreciated level of independence.
The first thing that catches the listener’s attention in West Beach is the vocals, which are crisper and more in your face, which complements the variation’s in delivery quite nicely. Spectator experiments with some nifty back and forth between the guitars and vocals, and the entire song is held together by solid drumming that weaves from section to section.
The title track, Go On, closes the record on a bit of a weaker note. While Go On begins with an interesting melodic intro, the likes of which isn’t seen anywhere else on the EP, much of the song is forgettable. The chorus itself is lackluster, although the backing vocals and verses shine through.
The EP delivers three memorable tracks and two that just couldn’t quite measure up, and the order of the tracks unfortunately worked against Spectator. But when the band brings its A-Game, they deliver quality material that keeps a listener coming back, a sure sign of promise. If you take one thing from Go On, it's that you need to keep an eye on Spectator.
Tracklist:
1. Young Love
2. Prime
3. Fall Fades
4. West Beach
5. Go On
Rating:
Written by Frank Campisano IV
