Hailing from New Jersey/New York, Punk Indie Pop outfit Candy Hearts unveil their latest effort The Best Ways To Disappear EP. Also being the first official release from Pop Punk and Hardcore behemoth Chad Gilbert's new label Violently Happy records, while also assuming production duties on the record.
The Best Ways To Disappear is the first official release after the departure of previous drummer Christina Picciano, showing the band not halting for a second as they continue to deliver the sharp urgent nature that has previously been so aligned with the band's music. To put it frankly The Best Ways To Disappear are strips cut from the same cloth of the delicate seams of bubbly melodies and embroidered flakes of Pop poignancy which laces the integral sound of the band, however now the vibrant stitches of sharper and edgier guitar tones don’t fail to entertain the attention of the eye.
Bad Idea the opening track flickers with an authentic chug before exploding into Mariel Loveland's sardonic claim of "I took the long way home, and I’m not sure why, I guess I don’t know how to deal with all these things on my mind...", prying your attention open to burrow the bittersweet sentiment, showing one of the many nuances of authentic '90s Alternative and Punk Rock, which are evident throughout the record.
After the last rings of Bad Idea the record proceeds with Matchbox instantly employing a ruckus chord progression that would have Jawbreaker wincing with admiration. The intensity ebbs and flows behind a conviction of a dread of the notion of stagnation through Loveland’s words "I don’t believe in those things, I don’t believe in anything because it’s always the same thing...".
The sentiments of the affliction of animosity within a relationship's are notable within Miles And Interstates and crushing as the tempo crescendos into a halt perfectly mirroring the disconnect and solitude of Mariel Loveland's words of "You looked me into my eyes, telling me you could see inside me..." before springing back into the last refrain of an infectious hook. The record then slides into Replacement Parts perfectly where the bouncy glee-evoking charm of Candy Hearts is hard to not acknowledge as it speeds, leaving an exhilarating thrill to listeners.
The last remaining tracks of the record show an incredible zest of ambition from the stripped enveloping delight of Sick Of It ringing as true as an intriguing tale with its wealth of simplicity. To suddenly then tilt listeners with an immediate full-band backing, as frontwoman Mariel Loveland and guitarist and co-vocalist Christian Migliorese layer each other's shades with the last refrain of the chorus. Closer Ticklish is bright where the earnest and coy sentiments are amusing, almost acting as an epitome to the growing flourish of a treasured connection within a relationship.
The Best Ways To Disappear is delightful and an admirable effort in paying respect to the authentic '90s Pop Punk and Alternative scene paying homage to acts such as P.S. Elliot, while also honing in on their unique and glowing traits.
Tracklist:
1. Bad Idea
2. Matchbox Cars
3. Miles And Interstates
4. Replacement Parts
5. Sick Of It
6. Ticklish
Rating:
Written by Aaron Akeredolu
