EP REVIEW: My Rock and Roll Heart – Derek Sanders

People like to do sweet things for Valentine’s Day, more so if they’re in a relationship. This is no exception for musicians, like Derek Sanders, frontman for the band MAYDAY PARADE. What started out as one cover for his wife became a five-track EP of acoustic covers for the holiday, titled My Rock and Roll Heart. So, despite being an EP full of covers, does it deliver on its romantic intention?

The EP is titled My Rock and Roll Heart, indicating that it is a personal EP for Derek to make for his wife. However, that comes across into the whole EP, as in it feels very passionate in the vocals, but also very simplistic in the music department. Only an acoustic guitar and in some songs, a piano, are used, which can usually add an interesting effect on the music, but on this EP, it’s just chords underneath the vocals, which means it’s very easy for the songs to drift into the background.

Despite the vocals being full of passion, the end result sounds like a guy that pulls out an acoustic guitar at the party to serenade their other half; sure, it’s sweet for the two involved, but it leaves the others around them feeling awkward. Especially with songs like Rocks Tonic Juice Magic, where the lyrics are very clumsy and all over the place, and Punk Rock Princess, where the acoustic sound does not fit the tone of the song. Covers are tricky to get right, with only a small percent of them actually working for other artists, but here, nothing new is added to them. 

My Rock and Roll Heart is sweet for both Derek Sanders and his wife, but for the rest of the general public to listen to, it’s awkward, clumsy, and unoriginal. It’s basic, plain and simple. Sometimes that’s okay for acoustic covers, but when nothing new is added to the music itself, it’s left feeling uninspired and forgettable. 

Rating: 5/10

My Rock and Roll Heart is out now via Rise Records.