EP REVIEW: VII – Chrissy Costanza
She might be best-known for being the powerhouse vocalist behind AGAINST THE CURRENT, but Chrissy Costanza shows a different side to herself on her debut solo EP VII. Whilst AGAINST THE CURRENT have stuck firmly in the pop-rock genre, Costanza has branched out into different genres. She has been the primary songwriter for the band, and on VII, she emphasises that talent, creating a raw and personal EP, reclaiming her identity and creating a unique sound that is solely her own.
But, What If I Fly? starts off with synths before embracing a light rock sound with Costanza‘s recognisable vocals singing about embracing the unknown, no matter how scary it is. VOILÀ have guest vocals on 7 Minutes In Hell, a dark grunge duet that blends both their vocals perfectly. This grunge sound continues on Picky Your Poison, and it suits Costanza‘s voice very well. It’s almost a shame that AGAINST THE CURRENT don’t play grunge music, but thankfully it happens on Costanza‘s EP.
If Looks Could Kill starts off as a synth-pop song before exploding into a heavy rock song, whereas You’d Be Right is a synth-pop-rock song that wouldn’t sound out of place on the mainstream radio, and Some Like It Hot is an ode to love and embracing who you are. Whilst closing song I Tried To Act Your Age is an acoustic song, it doesn’t slow the EP down at all. Instead, it just emphasises Costanza‘s vocal talents even more.
The different genres might sound like a recipe for disaster on paper, the reality is different. Every song is necessary and works very well thanks to the production. Pacing wise, the EP is fantastic, as the songs are average between two to three minutes long. Even though there are seven songs, which is slightly longer than the average EP, it doesn’t feel long or overstuffed with songs.
Overall, VII by Chrissy Costanza is a fantastic EP that shows that she is more than just ‘the lead singer of AGAINST THE CURRENT‘. Each song shows a different side to her, and they all work well together as a coherent EP. Although there are seven songs in total, none of them overstay their welcome. This helps the pacing of the EP because each song is long enough to make an impact, whilst also being short enough to not make it feel overstuffed. The production on the EP means that each song stands out on its own. Furthermore, it helps give the EP order, as all the songs are wildly different from each other. Regardless of if you’ve heard of Chrissy Costanza yesterday or have been there since the beginning of her career, VII is an EP that everyone can enjoy.
Rating: 9/10
VII is out now via self-release.
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