the Playthings - "The Black
& White EP"
Independent Release
This is an impressive debut offering from The Playthings. The Black & White EP is also a
collectors item - you can get it in either white or... yellow. I'm not
quite sure why that is. It's also more of that alt/pop rock that our
area seems to produce in such great abundance - but with a nice twist
on it. The Playthings have produced some original tunes that utilize
some interesting keyboard effects to compliment some killer vocal
harmonies.
Sadly, even for an EP, this disc is just too short. Actually, let me
correct myself on that: These four songs just get me ready for more.
It's a common problem with EPs... they warm you up, rock out, and then
just abruptly end, leaving you craving more great tunes like these four
here.
They're incredibly catchy songs, as well, and they stick with you long
after the disc ends. "Let Me In," the first track on the disc, just
rocks out. The heavy bass fuzz from Jenny Heart in the background gives
it a really danceable feel. The vocal harmonies also make it really
stand out.
"Rock N. Roll Died" has an intro that kinda' reminds me of R.E.M.'s
"Low." But that's actually pretty true of the entire track. This one
has a very "early-R.E.M." sound to it, and it's done well.
"Tryin' Not To Think" isn't quite as well-composed as the rest of the
tracks, but it's not bad either. "Syrian Rue" is the odd man out on
this EP. It's more of a rocker - with heavier use of distortion on the
guitars.
The Black & White EP, all
in all, is a pretty good representation of The Playthings - and I want
more, dammit. The guitars on this thing crank and pull the whole disc
from one track to the next. The vocals are exceptionally good as well.
The Playthings show a lot of promise with this EP... and I anxiously
await a full-length offering.