HANNAH LUTEREK AND MATT TURNER
Specials to The Leader
Hannah’s Choice: “I.” by Cigarettes After Sex
Matt’s Take: As a newcomer to Cigarettes After Sex, “I.” was quite the experience to say the least.
While the EP was off to a great start with the slow but effective “Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby,” I knew after that song that I would appreciate the band’s sound more than I would actually like it.
Like my primary problem with Hannah’s previous choice, “Being No One, Going Nowhere” by STRFKR, the vocals on “I.” are way too floaty for me to fully immerse myself. I can tolerate floaty vocals with artists, especially Thom Yorke of Radiohead, but that is because it is typically used as a primer to bring listeners in before laying down the heavy stuff. It might just be my personal taste, but when musicians keep this seemingly unenthused tone without any type of lift, I feel somewhat cheated.
This is nothing to say about the actual quality of the EP, as it is perfectly serviceable for people into this style of music, and it will no doubt be worth a listen to them. I will state my respect for the atmosphere that the EP gives as it pulled me in enough to wait for a lift. Unfortunately, this lift never came, so I left feeling underwhelmed.
Three Standout Tracks: “Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby,” “I’m A Firefighter,” and “Dreaming of You.”
Score: 5.5/10
Hannah’s Take: Before getting into the heart and soul of this EP, I will be the first to admit that Cigarettes After Sex is a band I could take or leave.
Most of their discography is annoyingly similar.
With that being said, they do know exactly how to get a person feeling some type of way, “I.” is no exception. The 18-minute EP features lead singer and guitarist Greg Gonzalez evoking feelings of love, desire and pure emotion through each song. This is definitely not revolutionary for the group, as some of their more popular tracks like “Apocalypse” and “K.” have the exact same appeal and influence on the hearts of listeners.
What “I.” does successfully is give listeners the experience of a budding relationship in the short amount of time it takes to listen. “Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby” calls to mind the unsure, nervous feeling you get when you’re on the verge of exclusivity with someone new. Fear mixes with excitement, and then straight up love throughout the remainder of the EP.
Yes, I’m annoyed with the lack of risk and difference in “I.,” but I am so lucky to have listened to such an intimate, emotion-inducing group of songs.
Three Standout Tracks: “Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby,” “I’m A Firefighter,” and “Dreaming of You.”
Score: 7.8/10
Matt’s Choice: “Zerwee” by Billy Cobb
Matt’s Take: As any Weezer fan knows, it really sucks being a Weezer fan.
Defending the band through the best and the worst is quite a strenuous activity. One minute they release one of their best albums in decades with “White Album,” the next minute they’re debuting their “Black Album” on a private island in the videogame “Fortnite.”
While they are branching out, it is hard to still love the band following their dip after “White Album.” It seems that no one understands this struggle more than the Youtuber Billy Cobb who produced the EP “Zerwee” because he was sick of waiting for a good Weezer album.
If any fans have felt burned by the bland “Pacific Daydream,” the insulting “Teal Album,” or the underachieving “Black Album,” “Zerwee” is for you. The songs harken back to the days of “Blue Album” and “Pinkerton” with Cobb’s vocals practically mirroring that of Weezer’s frontman Rivers Cuomo.
I dare any Weezer fan that has not listened to “Zerwee” yet to listen to the track “She Doesn’t Love Me” and say that it doesn’t sound like a lost “Pinkerton” B-side.
I definitely have a lot of bias being a huge Weezer enthusiast, for better or for worse, but I can confidently state that “Zerwee” is an EP that is right up my alley, and I’m sure any alt-rock fan/Weezer fan/sad-boy will dig it to no end as well.
Three Standout Tracks: “The Shell Shack,” “She Doesn’t Love Me,” and “Dumb Song for Virgins to Cry to.”
Score: 9.4/10
Hannah’s Take: Unlike Matt, I am not much of a Weezer fan, so it was fun to dive into “Zerwee” without much awareness of what I should even be listening for.
Off the bat, Cobb managed to give me the pop punk vibes that have been absent from my life, maybe since middle school. “She Doesn’t Love Me” is very reminiscent of teenage days spent longing for the ex you dated for a few months. This feeling of teenage angst/sadness/bullshit is ever-present within the EP, and I honestly enjoyed it.
I found the nostalgia to be slightly forced in “1955,” but “Dumb Song for Virgins to Cry to” really hit the nail on the head when it comes to feeling like an outcast teen without a clue. I’m not well-versed in this subgenre of alternative music, so it’s difficult for me to be overly critical, but I can say for certain that this is not something I would normally find myself listening to.
“Zerwee” didn’t really leave much of a lasting impact on me, but I do appreciate the backstory Matt provided. It’s admirable to create something good for yourself instead of sitting around and waiting for someone else to do it for you. Bonus points for the EP cover, which I have seen turned into a meme maybe once or twice.
Three Standout Tracks: “The Shell Shack,” “She Doesn’t Love Me” and “Dumb Song for Virgins to Cry to.”
Score: 6.8/10