A lot of up and coming bands are still trying to do their best impersonation of Blink 182 or some other pop punk cliché band. TV/TV are young, but they are trying something a little different — they borrow their sound more from the Cars and Cheap Trick.
But they are only using these influences to develop their own sound; their sound being big rock with pop sensibilities. They have grown tremendously in a short time. They went from selling CDs in the Vans Warped tour parking lot to performing on stage at the 2009 Warped Tour.
“Small Time” kicks off the EP with a blast of stadium rock. Superb production and slick playing give Josh Ocean, lead singer, a beautiful canvas for his voice, which sounds powerful and melodic. Next is the hit “Fire Island Freakout,” an homage to the barrier island of Long Island of the same name. One of the members hails from this freaky little island with a dubious history. The song itself is raucous and builds upon the big rock sound. The chorus is a lot of fun and is easy to sing along to.
For me, the best song of the EP is “Good Cop, Bad Cop. ”What I like best about this song is the potential it shows. It is the mellowest song to date and shows the band is pushing itself to be more than just another loud rock band. The vocals are great and the groove is insidious. This song seduces you and gently pulls you in. When you’re hooked, it lights you on fire with an awesome catchy chorus. Josh sings: “Good cop, Bad cop tell me when its gonna stop, one step forward till love is over, over and over.” Lyrically, it perfectly captures young love — the good and bad of it all. “Turn Me On, ”the last song of the EP, is a lot of fun. Hand claps and distorted guitar followed by a sax riff… nice.
This EP is so much better than the earlier music. The guys are becoming a cohesive unit. The sound is big and it’s focused. This four-song EP is great and serves as a bridge between what they were and who they will become. They were just playing rock star before. Now, they are committed to putting in the work and it shows. I highly recommend this EP and can’t wait for what’s next.
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