Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Swimming Pool Summer - EP - Capital Cities

Capital Cities broke on the scene in 2013 with their hit song, "Safe and Sound", a track full of bright synths, a pulsing drum track, and the trumpet line on the chorus that really gave the song its unique sound. The band has been a bit quiet since their first album, but finally released a new EP of music July 7th called "Swimming Pool Summer". As can be expected, the songs off this release are perfect for summertime adventures and parties.

The title track starts things off in the same vein as their previous releases, with a subtle synth bass and strummed electric and acoustic guitar that intro into Ryan Merchant's vocals and a trumpet line that brings to mind their hit song while feeling new. The overall vibe of the song is laid back and a bit more subdued than their original album; the instrumental . There are also some cool string lines on the bridge as well that are subtle; it shows the  way that the band layers and includes a lot of cool elements that require a bit more attention from the listener to appreciate. This isn't the kind of song you would put on to get a wild party started, but definitely works for a beach day or pool day or summer night kickback.

"Drop Everything" begins with a low, rumbling synth and a cool vocal track that's been edited and chopped. This song has a bit more emphasis on the drums than the last song, especially on the verses. The lyrics are really intriguing as well, with Merchant utilizing the same rhyme sound on each verse; they manage to do so in a way that doesn't become tiresome or annoying. It shows their ability to make different words work in the same rhyme scheme and not fall back on the same words again and again. The small build up and drop into the vocal hook/synth line for each chorus is nice; again, it's not over exaggerated but still pulls from current trends in the music world. The bridge also features a nice trumpet solo (I was a trumpet player in middle and high school, so I am inclined to appreciate it more than some might) that feels right at place amongst all the electronic swells and wobbles surrounding it.

"Girl Friday" is an interesting one because it features rapper Rick Ross, which might not be something the average listener would expect on a song like this. On their first album, however, Capital Cities featured Andre 3000 from Outkast, so it fits their vibe. This song is definitely the most upbeat and energetic of the EP, and also works more in a narrative format than the rest of the songs they've done. This story element is especially prominent in the first verse, where Merchant sings and a woman responds in a way that would be indicative of a telephone call. Rick Ross's verse fits right in with the song, as surprising as that might sound. I myself was skeptical at first when I saw his name listed, but I was impressed with the way in which he made his sound fit on the pop track, which is not his normal forte at all.

"Drifting" begins with the focus on the vocals, as Merchant sings without the usual harmonization he has on his tracks; it gives the few lines a sense of vulnerability that isn't easily found in their music. The song has a bit of a melancholy feel to it, despite the synths and drums not letting up until the very end of the song. It ends in a stripped down form, just vocals and plucked guitar chords, providing a very different glance at this band. This song also utilizes a remixed vocal hook in the chorus that goes back and forth with Merchant's actual vocals. The song has a slight 70's/80's vibe, especially during the pre-chorus with the synth and guitar choices they made.

There is also a remix of the title track by THCSRS, which fits the overall vibe of the EP while still giving the track a new sound that would fit well at an EDM festival for people to dance along to. It's not anything incredibly spectacular, but a good addition for what the EP seemed to be trying to do.

Something that I enjoy about this band is that they found their niche and have stuck to it. They haven't tried to do anything super innovative or thought provoking (not to say they don't make excellent music) - and that's okay, because they know what kind of music they can make really, really well. Everyone needs music for different times and different purposes, and Capital Cities should be an auto include on everyone's summer jam lists this year.

Since this is an EP, I'm going to rate each song individually as well as overall.

Rating: Overall - 7/10

  • Swimming Pool Summer 8/10
  • Drop Everything - 8/10
  • Girl Friday (feat. Rick Ross) 6/10
  • Drifting - 7/10
  • Swimming Pool Summer (THCSRS Remix) - 6/10


Recommended: "Swimming Pool Summer", "Drop Everything"

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