The Reptilian
Boys’ Life EP
Count Your Lucky Stars; 2009
Upon my first couple of listens through the Boys’ Life EP by The Reptilian, I would have probably told you that this Michigan quartet was a bit too helter-skelter for my tastes. Sure, I dig quality math rock, hardcore, and indie, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to stomach all three of those styles (plus more assorted tidbits) hurtling toward me within the confines of a singular four-minute song. Eventually, everything began to coalesce as sneakily snaking guitar lines dueled over my affections and the syncopated rhythms tickled my air drumming tendencies, while a strident vocalist bellowed with the energy of Aaron Weiss of mewithoutYou fronting a hardcore band (imagine frustration, not anguish).
The first two tracks are fairly engaging, once you accustom your ears to what’s going on, but “Wallkicks Will Work” is an unfortunate instrumental offering that was probably an attempt to shift gears a bit. The standout track of the project is “I Can’t Drink This, It’s Warm!,” complete with some dance-y, pogo-inducing tempos. Moreover, it serves as a fitting mountaintop experience to conclude the record, as the chiming guitar chords and the words “Oh, this view looks so familiar. We are all telling tales taller than we are. We are all so sure we’re the only ones around,” ring in one’s ears. Overall, the Boys’ Life EP finds The Reptilian employing a brazen, in-your-face-attitude that I can’t help but find attractive. I just wonder whether or not the band can maintain such a frenetic sound on future releases.
March 2nd, 2010 23:56