When I interviewed Tyson of Crooked Teeth for my review of their rerelease of Pastel, he mentioned the influence that Fall Out Boy has had on the band, in terms of way they approach all aspects of the music biz and taking the risks that they have over the years.
As I was listening to the new EP, Honey, I found myself very much agreeing with that influence and seeing the way that Crooked Teeth is ready to take risks and make bold moves. With just five songs, the band really flexes their songwriting skills and showcases their wide-ranging influences, with elemtnts of hip-hop and pop smoothly mixing in with pop-punk and emo sounds. It's an ambitions venture, not trying to fit a single mold or set of expectations as the band lays it all out on the line. The whole EP only lasts for about 17 minutes, but each listen reveals the variety of sound spaces that the band chose to explore through. At it's heart, the band's pop-punk and rock sound holds true throughout. Each song of the release manages to incorporate an element or two that is not an obvious connection - the hip-hop beats of the title track, "Honey", and "You and Me (Whatever)", the synth/percussion melody line utilized in the intro and choruses of "Broken Bones", and the pop-leaning beat, synths, and echoing/super high vocals of "Absent" all reveal a much wider range of musical inspiration far beyond those of any one genre.
One of the most impressive elements of this release is the songwriting. It's incredibly strong, with all of the hooks for each song being both memorable and creative; tunes that get stuck in your head but still retain substance and intentionality. I think the song that sticks out to me the most is "You and Me (Whatever)" - the vocals and melody feel the strongest of the whole EP, showing pop-sensibility over both the synthetic beats and bass or the gritty guitars and crashing drums. The fact that they hold up so well over both sections, both of completely different directions and vibes, really is a testament to the band's songwriting and Tyson's vocal abilities.
The impressive nature of the songwriting goes far beyond the vocals; the instrumentals are all top notch as well. The flawless melding of the band's usual tools (guitar, bass, drums) with the synthetic and genre-crossing elements makes for an ever-deepening listening experience. Each time through leaves room for new discoveries, new a-ha moments. Not to mention there's just some kickass, jamming places that make your body want to move along. There's this place in "Absent" where the guitars hit these staccato, almost snarl-like notes, in sync with the drums that is just damn cool. The contrast of the verse in "Hate Me" between the muted guitar strums and drums and the full throttle wall of noise for Tyson to growl over. The drop into the first chorus of "Honey" where Tyson falls through a melody that conveys such anguish while Adam and Adam kick things into high gear to provide a ferocious wall of support. I could keep going, but the point is that the band knows what they're doing - these ain't no amateurs.
Lyrically, this release is a gold mine. Such well crafted songs about deep struggles and pain that life has brought and letting those responsible know what they've done. It's a very relationally-based set of songs, but one that feels very relatable and paints vivid pictures of the various situations. The chorus for "Honey is one such example:
"I think I might die
I feel the onset of this heart attack
While my hands are tied behind my back"
as well as part of the chorus of "Absent"
"It always happens, that I'm left hurting
Rather be absent, than feel like a burden
You draw me close, just enough to make me hang around"
The biggest stinger/call out, which I really appreciated the brutal honesty of the last few lines of the bridge for "Broken Bones":
"There's only so much you can buy
When there's just nothing left to hide behind
So smile big cause that's the only thing that's real".
Each song contains a number of lines that I imagine many people will grab onto and hold close to, capturing the different struggles of those with anxiety, depression, and heartbreak.
When I spoke with Tyson back in May, he said this about the forthcoming EP (Honey): "I think people are going to be pleasantly surprised at the growth there." He got it right on the nose. I think this EP has a little bit of something for everyone. Not only does it have elements that drew fans to the band, but shows the scope of their vision for what the band can accomplish and their willingness to take risk along the way. The payoff was definitely worth it; this is 17 minutes of super solid music that you won't want to miss.
Rating: 5/5
Recommended: "Honey", "You and Me (Whatever)", "Broken Bones"
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