By Nick Marini, news staff
As summer transitions into fall, there comes a change in the music people listen to. Gone are the summer jams and autumn merits the return of emotional ballads. Fitting into that change is a new EP by Monterey, called “Sailors.”
Compared to the group’s last release, the EP “The King’s Head,” this has the feel of a much more personal record. It suggests a transition from the heartland indie sound of last April, where the band played on nostalgia and optimistic spirit, toward an exploration of more introspective lyrics about dealing with change. The three performers are trying to figure out just how to live with that change, and although it’s somewhat somber and longing, they play with a surprising amount of energy.
That energy is starting to become a part of Monterey’s character, and it’s maintained throughout “Sailors.” The band plays hard and loud on choruses, and keeps things together with catchy melodies in between, usually closing songs on some sort of finale. The lyrics revolve around loss and uncertainty, and confront the reasons behind both.
The track “Sailors” is maybe the best cut from the release, and displays the strongest example of that sentiment: “Drown all your sailors/And capsize all your boats/This ship is leaving/It’s done that’s all she wrote.” The closing minute features the loudest points on the record and a hollering refrain that mostly likely won’t leave your head for a while.
Even though this type of emotion might be new for the band, “Sailors” features some of its strongest songwriting so far. There’s room to expand its sound, but a release like this suggests it’s headed in that direction. Monterey plays here like a latter-day Thrice with an extra emphasis on lead guitars. While simpler than that, “Sailors” is an effort to bring more power, depth and complexity to the group’s sound, and in just four tracks it might not be fully fledged, but is certainly visible.
“Sailors” won’t be the darkest record on your fall playlist, but it still keeps its edge. If you’re reluctant to give in to the colder seasons, it’s a quick, jam-packed, headphone-friendly listen, different from the upbeat tunes of summer. Keep an eye out for this release on Nov. 18.
Photo courtesy Monterey
