Altsounds - The Silent Years

I am such a new music junkie that whenever I discover an artist for the first time that I like, I automatically assume they must be new, and what I am listening to must be their debut release. If I discover that this is in fact not the case then I wonder how the hell I never discovered them before, and this is exactly how it was with Let Go by The Silent Years. Their name is kind of familiar, but then faces, band names, scenarios often feel familiar to me; I’m on permanent déjà vu (didn’t I already type that?).

But enough about me, what exactly is it that I have discovered here? Well following three albums released since 2006, the band decided to release a 6 track EP full of songs that are, according to singer/guitarist Josh Epstein, "generally a little more upbeat, a little happier, except for the last song". And so Let Go was born, five songs of glorious indie pop that, if justice prevails, will surely see the band reach a wider audience and leave people like myself in no doubt of who The Silent Years are. I say only five songs of glorious indie pop because, as Epstein himself admits, the final track, “Claw Marks” is a hell of a lot more downbeat. In truth it’s also the weakest track on Let Go, and perhaps due to this and its discordant mood, it should have been left off an otherwise near perfect EP and saved for a kindred release.

As easy as it is to pick a lowlight, it’s much harder to pick a highlight. From the ridiculously titled “TV>BJ” (I don’t know what TV shows these guys watch but I’m obviously missing out – perhaps the bands sole female member, Cassandra Verras, came up with that title) to the heart-warming “Forest Fire”, there are more examples of great songwriting on Let Go than many bands manage in a career, let alone a full length album, let alone an EP. Epstein said that there was a greater focus on melody than on their previous releases, and now after hearing it so wonderfully executed, it’s tragic that they didn’t demonstrate such a knack previously; perhaps then they would have made themselves heard long before now. Let’s just hope it’s better late than never, and their silent years are well and truly over.

Track List:
1. Taking Drugs at the Amusement Park
2. Vampires Bite the Hands That Feed Them
3. Forest Fire
4. Madame Shocking
5. TV>BJ
6. Claw Marks