Review: Suppertime – Here’s The Thing
Music
Suppertime
Here’s The Thing
HogBomb Entertainment
Street: 05.24
Suppertime= Oasis + Weezer + Blink-182
Vancouver garage band Suppertime brings high energy vocals, dynamic instrumentation and genre fusion to the table in their recent EP, Here’s The Thing. As their band name suggests, the funky group mixes ‘90s alt-rock, along with hints of surf, punk and psychedelic sounds that fill their music-hungry listeners up! Listening to the four track EP for the first time transported me to an oceanside that is out of this galaxy. Reminiscent of groups like Jimmy Eat World, Green Day, The Cure and The Strokes, the band makes a nostalgic collection of music along with witty lyrics that allow for a groovy experience.
Starting off strong with track one, “Wave Race,” the band puts rhythmic guitar riffs and shouted punk vocals together to create a captivating and upbeat sound. Almost as if the notes were crashing along with the waves of the ocean, the track has an adventurous spirit to it, making it a great opener for the rest of the EP. Suppertime pairs the fun and lively tunes with even more fun lyrics. From the lyrics that can be deciphered, they shout absurdities like, “Eat a hot dog and feel sad / Take a bite of it, call your mom.” The playfulness is what I really love about the track and I can see it being in the background of a montage movie scene.
“Wave Race” fades into track two, “Carpet Cutter,” which begins with the similar energetic guitar riffs and drum beats from before. The second track has fewer comedic undertones and more of a classic theme of heartbreak. The vocalist belts out the lyrics with full force that, at a certain point in the track, it’s the only thing you can really hear or focus on. Crashing cymbals and distorted, high-pitched guitar and the last minute on the track, matching the lyrical sentiment, “well she said she’s sorry and it don’t mean nothing / because I know she’s crazy, because she cut me like a carpet cutter”.
In track three, “Nightly News,” the fast paced music continues and holds my attention as the instrumental volume competes with the rock vocals. This track is chaotic and has more of a punk influence than the rest of the EP. The catchy guitar shines through and the silly lyrics add a pinch of pizazz to the piece.
Calming things down a bit with track four, “Honolulu Cafe” is composed of psychedelic fuzzy guitar and powerful vocals that tell a story. The tempo of the song is slower, and the vocals aren’t as subdued by the music as they are in other tracks. “Honolulu Cafe” stood out to me the most,as it really showcases the range of genres that influence Suppertime’s sound. Throughout the track, the instrumental part reminds me of the sweet sounds of Khruangbin, one of my favorite psychedelic rock bands of today.
Here’s The Thing is a whirlwind of sound that feels both familiar and fresh, stirring in ‘90s nostalgia with the creativity of today. From the crashing waves of “Wave Race” to the psychedelic haze of “Honolulu Cafe,” the EP takes you on an adventure that keeps you hooked from start to finish. If you want to not just listen to music, but experience it, check out Suppertime on Spotify! –India Bown
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