Writer: Sarah Reeve
Vejle-based Chasing Greenlights release EP!
Kaleido is the much anticipated debut EP from Vejle’s Chasing Greenlights and for the first minute of the opening track, “Feel Your Sin” I thought I could see where the anticipation came from. If I were 18 again, I would probably love the explosion of high energy pop-punk it throws at you. But I’m not 18. And it’s not the 1990s. And needless to say, my nostalgia faded pretty quickly.
After my first full run through of the album I felt underwhelmed and confused, so I did some research instead. The band’s website claims that the, “band consists of four very different individuals with different sources of inspiration.” Fantastic! I love it! Different people with different ideas brought together by their mutual love of music. The world needs more of it. But even though it’s very lovely and inspiring, it more than clarifies my confusion.
Chasing Greenlights seem to be trying to revamp something that has been already overdone (that embarrassing pop-punk scene that was so popular in ’90s North America) by synthesizing everything and adding vocals that are better suited to a different genre. Sadly, it comes out sounding pretty much like any other over-produced punk album plus some very vibrato vocals.
Kaleido’s second track, “Let It Go” is slightly more enjoyable than the first. It starts strong with a cheerful, catchy tune and vocals that are a bit more controlled. It’s an optimistic look at the direction in which things could head. But the final track, “No Reason” featuring Julia Bratland is a disappointing close to the EP. It’s an attempt at a ballad with lyrics that are so overdone that they’re on the verge of being cliche.
Unfortunately, the EP is almost exactly what you would expect from a pop-punk debut. Nothing more and nothing less. And while I appreciate that they’re trying to do something different and bring contrasting genres together, Chasing Greenlights still need to narrow in on their own unique sound. But hey, it’s not all bad – I watched some of the videos from their live shows and these guys definitely know how to have fun and pump up a room. Some hugely popular recordings artists can’t do that. I have no doubt that the group will make enthusiastic teens jump up and down at many local venues. But the rest of us can sit this one out.
2 Comments
Punk? Where did that one come from? I would define this as electro-rock, not punk!
Punk? Where did that one come from? I would define this as electro-rock, not punk!