EP Reviews with Angel Olsen, Princess Nokia & Softcult
Forever Means EP - Angel Olsen
i love you but this is goodbye EP - Princess Nokia
See You In The Dark EP - Softcult
The reason I was excited for this new Angel Olsen EP is easy to explain. Her output has been so consistently great that everyone should be constantly excited for whatever she's doing next. After loving her last album I was thrilled that we were getting another taste with these four songs which originate from the same recording sessions. It helped that the EP was led off by the gorgeous Nothing's Free and intimate ballad which stretches and grows to include a charming sax solo and some slinky keys. The EP's title track is a turn for something a bit more reserved though it definitely reminds me of some of my favorite quiet moments on her last record even if it isn't the most standout part of this project. Time Bandits is another big highlight which kind of feels like a throwback of sorts as Angel revisits some vocal inflections we haven't heard since at least My Woman. It's a simple sonic palette for a song but the results are larger than life in her hands. Combined with the exciting closer Holding On this EP is pretty much just another helping of wonderfully enjoyable songs from one of the most consistent artists out there. Even without any astonishing high points, Angel still has a leg up on her contemporaries. 8/10
Keeping up with not only the output of Princess Nokia but also her evolving style is no easy task. That's how I felt when I first heard the project's opener closure which is a borderline pop-punk song with charming fourth-wall breaks and a hook that's catchier than I first gave it credit for. Unfortunately, I still think the other two singles are just okay which in combination with the outright annoying the fool means that the first half of this project is a bit of a rocky ride. The second half doesn't seem immediately much better with the overwrought and kind of cringe angles & demons and the very weirdly produced thank you. Thankfully, the project ends on a much better note with the dancy independence anthem happy. It's the exact kind of song I love hearing from Princess Nokia because it's basically a full display of her artistic versatility all in one track. This EP has its highs but also has its lows and across 20 minutes that inconsistency is really on display. While this won't dissuade me from looking forward to future releases from her, I don't think this will be one of the more memorable moments in her catalog. 5.5/10
Softcult is a Canadian duo I've been hearing about for a few years now whose promise is apparently a blending together of the aesthetics of grunge and shoegaze with the attitude of riot grrl. This is their second EP and it's generated even more fanfare than their first one. While the band does have some edge, See You In The Dark is their most shoegazey and least grungy release yet. In between the waves of sweet guitars are gentle vocal harmonies that glide over everything and take some of the impact out of the pummeling drums on a song like Dress. In contrast to that compliment though, this EP is at its best when it's as grounded as possible. The dreamy soundscapes and wandering songwriting never manage to be nearly as compelling as some of the sharp riffs or great sung hooks on a song like Someone2Me or Spoiled. For this reason the project is a bit inconsistent but for every moment it spends wandering it spends more time very much in the moment. Even though nothing the band is doing is nearly as revolutionary as some music writers have made it seem, they've got a lot of potential and I like this EP more than their previous one. 6.5/10
