EP REVIEW: Frightful Places – Frightful Places
FRIGHTFUL PLACES is the project of guitarist and songwriter Kevin Tiernan. The Connecticut-based songwriter conceived the idea around cafes, hiking trails and bedrooms, and crafted it during the pandemic. The result is a self-titled EP which combines the 2010s emo revival with the energetic punk of Tiernan‘s former project MOVING BROOKLYN. The EP was recorded with Chris Teti at Silver Bullet Studios.
This record is an upbeat but also intimate look at life. It starts with Old Frame, which is an upbeat emo song reminiscent of DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE. The guitars provide a bounce that would translate well live. However, it is the quieter instrumental section in the song’s second half that is the highlight. That in no way is an insult to the vocals, which are soft and impactful. However, the instruments are the highlight of the song. It is almost as if Tiernan was afraid to give it his all when it came to the opening song, which is a shame, as what we get of his singing is fantastic.
The title track follows and it improves upon the first by including more vocals. Whilst it might end slightly abruptly, this is a deliberate choice, as it transitions smoothly into Still, which is the next song. The only issue this raises is that the two songs feel somewhat indistinguishable. This is a shame as both songs are beautifully crafted on their own, but it just might’ve helped to have a song in between them.
Eklund Garden could’ve been the song in between. Upbeat, with a groovy guitar riff, it is a joyful song with depressing lyrics. Whilst this is nothing new, the production makes it feel unique. In fact, this entire EP is extremely well produced, resulting in a smooth, fun and easy listening experience.
Unfortunately, Stuck suffers the same issue as Still. The song itself is an upbeat and joyful track, but it feels like a continuation of Eklund Garden. This is a shame because it is a really fun song. However, it gets overshadowed by the previous song. In fact, if the EP had shuffled a couple of songs around, it could have been fantastic. On the other hand, this is a debut EP, and therefore it is not supposed to be perfect.
Overall, Frightful Places is a great effort for a debut EP. It is fun, intimate, and a joy to listen to. Unfortunately, it suffers from having two songs similar to each other right next to each other, twice. This makes the second and third song sound like one long acoustic song, whilst the closing two songs sound like one long joyful song. However, despite this, there is a clear passion for music. The songs are well-written, and – despite a shaky start on the first song where the instruments took centre stage – the vocals are brilliant throughout. If you are into 2010s indie music, or want something to make you smile, then this EP is for you. It is an exciting start for FRIGHTFUL PLACES.
Rating: 7/10
Frightful Places is set for release on January 13th via self-release.
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