Review: Animal Daydream - Easy Pleasures EP
By Sam Carroll, Contributor
[Jigsaw; 2015]
Rating: 3/10
Key Track: "Glass Windows"
One may get an idea as to what kind of music a band calling itself Animal Daydream plays based on the name alone. The Swedish soft indie-rock duo recently released its debut EP, Easy Pleasures. Like many indie acts, clean electric or acoustic guitars and drumming reminiscent of garage rock drive the music. Throw the awkward electric keyboard into the mix and you have sub-par music at its best.
“Canyon Rose” opens the EP with some bright guitar chords before being joined by the remaining instruments. The addition of brass in the instrument lineup gives the progression some depth, but these qualities are the only positive attributes this track possesses.
The mumbled, monotone vocal delivery doesn’t do much to make the dull lyrics seem interesting. “Leaves are falling / Pebbles are rolling / I’m certain this road goes to a canyon rose.” The musicality on this track isn’t too exciting, either. The production is clean, but it doesn’t matter when keyboards smother the guitars and drums. Unsurprisingly, the track doesn’t close on a strong note. The band tries to incorporate a chorus effect with multiple singers but the attempt is laughable.
If one track has to be chosen to best represent the EP, “Glass Windows” takes the top spot. The music is the epitome of a broken record and the chorus is the only section that breaks away from the overall rhythm. The keyboard doesn’t hog up the mix, but it still sounds like a buzz saw and takes away from the otherwise decent production. The vocals have much more emotion compared to “Canyon Rose,” but a twang that doesn’t gel with the music.
“Easy Pleasures” brings out some of Animal Daydream’s instrumentality. The guitars step away from their expected rhythm and hone in on lead work. It gives the track depth that was absent on others. Despite this addition, it still sounds like more of the same.
“I Knew You Would Come Along Before Fall” closes the EP as the most diverse track. It incorporates a string section in the bridge after the chorus. On the production end, some of the instruments have too strong of a presence. The percussive tone of the guitars becomes so shrill it causes a headache. On the flip side, the added reverb gives the track a darker, moodier sound than the rest of the EP. Unfortunately, the vocals bring it down. Where “Glass Windows” and “Easy Pleasures” had clarity, “Before Fall” reverts back to the mumbled, nasally sound from “Canyon Rose.” Ultimately, it just gets the job done as a closing track.
Indie pop or indie rock seems to have this connotation of easy listening among the majority of people. Easy Pleasures follows with this, but leaves a lot to be desired. The EP sounds more like an opportunity to practice audio editing and mixing, instead of a completely fulfilled effort.
