Pop-punk quintent from Talahassee, Florida, Mayday Parade, after two successful full length albums, brings it with a new EP sure to receive the same accolades as their previous albums. The new EP titled Valdosta contains acoustic recordings of 4 previous songs as well as 2 new songs.
Fans will not be disappointed. Each song contains the classic elements that make Mayday Parade unique, beautiful melodies as well as perfect vocal harmonies. This time around the band has included string accompaniment to several of their songs which contributes greatly to the overall sound and tone of the pieces. The Tallahassee quintet truly revisit their roots as well as show where they’re going in this EP.
Here’s what VVP thought of each track:
Opening with a classic “Jamie All Over”, the band keeps it cool and consistent with a simple acoustic guitar accompaniment and lead singer, Derek Sanders, complimented by another doing upper harmonies and occasional soloing. Overall, a good rendition of an old song. Keeps it simple but simple is sometimes what’s best in songs like this.
Next comes the acoustic version of “Kids In Love”. Once again, Sanders is accompanied by an acoustic guitar and the occasional piano as well as quieter harmonies in the background.
Rolling in next with a single piano melody is a new track entitled “Terrible Things”. A classic characteristic of Mayday Parade is that they occasionally create intriguing and beautiful stories through the lyrics that they write. Once again, “Terrible Things” delivers such a beauty. After a about two and a half minutes, the song explodes. The band joins in and Sanders belts and the tops of his lungs, creating the final and long awaited climactic moment for this track.
“Your Song” comes on next. If “old timer” fans of Mayday Parade remember, this song came out on their first EP Tales Told by Dead Friends back in 2006. Adding a violin portion and so much more, this rerecording of “Your Song” does not disappoint. It is arguably better than the original.
Another new track, “Amber Lynn”, follows. Sanders is again accompanied by background vocalizations, violin sections, and an acoustic guitar. Mayday Parade tries to again depict a story for their fans. It is another love story, though. Melodically and aesthetically, this song is very good, but one begins to wonder if Mayday Parade can actually write anything other than songs about love or heartbreak as this track begins. Nevertheless, this song is quite good.
Finally, concluding the Valdosta EP, is “Bruised and Scarred”. It opens up with a violin and an acoustic guitar, clearly the main instruments for this EP. Personally, I like this version much better than the original. The lyrics in this song sound much better in an acoustic version. It sounds more appropriate. Personally opinions aside, Mayday Parade closes with a calmer version of an old song and ties up this EP quite nicely.Overall, I would give this EP 3 1/2 stars. Mayday Parade delivers clean, pleasant vocals, as usual. Yet, the theme of this EP was the same as all other records created by Mayday Parade, love or love lost. The band is very good at creating hushed intensity vocally during any song, acoustically or not, and original, catchy, lovely melodies, yet the lyrics of Mayday Parade seem to constantly keep the same idea. That speaks about their consistency in what they give to their fans, but objectively speaking, it’s getting old. They better widen their horizons and find other subjects to write about before fans get bored. Overall, though, the Valdosta EP, is definitely a good EP. Granted, it is somewhat anticlimactic at points, but Mayday Parade always delivers awesome music, and this EP is not one to miss out on. Buy it when it comes out next week!
-Megan
EP SET TO RELEASE MARCH 8.
-Adele
