EP REVIEW: Picture Frames – Say It Anyway
SAY IT ANYWAY are a combination of two bands. After the COVID pandemic threw everything into chaos, punk band The Run Up were one of many who came to an end. However, four out of five of the members – Charlie Parsons, Loz Nelson, Stu Lloyd and Daniel Baker – didn’t want their musical journey to end, so they decided to carry on making music together. But they needed a singer. Enter Kristian Richards, the former singer of SAVE YOUR BREATH, and thus SAY IT ANYWAY were born.
Picture Frames is the band’s debut EP. It comprises six songs, and opens with Home. This one has the pop-punk energy and staples of the early 00s; it’s fast, talks of the past and has a big sing-along chorus. It doesn’t feel that different to any other pop-punk song, but there is also a certain charm that bleeds out of the song that makes you listen along.
Recent single Watch The Flowers Bloom is another up-beat pop-punk song. It is again not that original or distinguishable; however, the band sound like they are having fun, and that infectious energy is felt here. Furthermore, they are just starting out as a band, and therefore it is not a crime that they haven’t quite got their sound yet, although some may argue that they should have some sense of identity sorted out.
Thankfully, this happens on the mid-way song, Paper Trails. Is it an up-beat pop-punk song? Yes. But it has something new about it that feels distinct. It could be the lone guitar riff at the start; it could be the happy-go-lucky gang vocals in the bridge. Whatever it is, it feels like a song that SAY IT ANYWAY have made their home.
Adolescent is another up-beat pop-punk song. This creates consistency in the sound of the overall EP, which – in turn – is helped by the fantastic production. Sun On The Dash is another upbeat pop-punk song. However, it’s the final song that is the outlier. This one’s called Moments, and it is an acoustic version of their first single, with vocals from their long-time friend Matt Arsenault from A LOSS FOR WORDS. The song is a welcome break from all the hyper pop-punk, and it showcases the band’s softer side. The vocals from Arsenault give it that little edge over the previous ones.
In conclusion, Picture Frames is a decent EP from a band that are just starting out. The first five songs do blur into each other, which can make it seem underwhelming; however, the acoustic song at the end makes it worth the listen. Furthermore, SAY IT ANYWAY are clearly having the time of their lives, and that comes across in their songs. Another thing to note is that the band are just starting out, so it is understandable that they do not have a definitive sound yet. However, this EP shows potential; if they continue down this route, they could make a name for themselves.
Rating: 6/10
Picture Frames is set for release on May 27th via Real Ghost Records.
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