EP REVIEW: Front Door Confrontations – The Criticals

Nashville rock duo THE CRITICALS have unleashed their latest EP Front Door Confrontations. The duo themselves met over a decade ago and, having formed the band in 2018, they navigated their local DIY scene and carefully spent their time building up their audience through touring and music releases. The results so far have been highly praised EPs, sold out headline shows, and songs receiving over one million listens online. To say that they’re a force in the scene would be an understatement – something that this EP backs up.

As the record begins with All The Way, things kick off on an upbeat note with nicely put together guitar, drums and tambourine that perfectly compliment the smooth vocals and harmonies. Combining all of that results in a rock ‘n’ roll track that makes you want to dance, something that you can’t go wrong with. That’s also a fair description when it comes to much of the EP, although that is not to say that it all sounds the same as each song offers up its own unique qualities.

Belmont is heavily focused on the bass and drums and honestly it feels so damn cool; Call The Cliché has a fantastic guitar hook and simply makes you smile as it forces you to dance along; and recent single Clever Girl is more indie-rock coded. Burn With Me is probably the best song on the entire EP with its cool bass opening, the rock elements that draw comparison to THE WHITE STRIPES, oh, and the fact that it evokes images of the duo coming out of an alleyway at night wearing leather jackets and sunglasses snapping their fingers with the track playing in the background.

As the EP concludes with the title track, THE CRITICALS take a different approach this time and offer a completely acoustic number that is a lot gentler in comparison to the rest of the record. While different to how one might have pictured the EP concluding, it remains a pleasant song to listen to. And ultimately, Front Door Confrontations is a feel-good EP that would be the perfect thing to put on during a summer party, or a get together if you’re not the party type, but either way you’ll find yourself wanting to get up and dance along.

Rating: 7/10

Front Door Confrontations is out now via Fantasy Records.

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