Playing Dead - Back To The Show EP (Name Your Price)

 

New York's Playing Dead major on great melodic Power Pop. But this is the classic American version and it is refreshing to hear a US band not trying to be British. The songs are beautifully played, providing harmonious hotspots and continuing the revival of the genre.

This lot are not new to the scene, In Your Head is now 13 years old, but they are well placed to take advantage of the resurgence. They also have the benefit of being able to get closer to the maturing Pop Punk bands who are falling into the PP scene and providing an audience a generation of fans below the semi rooted 60 plus audience.

How Are You? is a great example of what they do. The songs straddles Pop Rock and has a slower start than the other 4 songs on show. It has a bigger sound which hints at AOR, whilst keeping the riff and the solo close to Power Pop.

Don't Look Up even steps into Cheap Trick territory with a pace to be admired. Back To The Show (23) adds a keyboard run that adds more variation to a catchy as catchy can be affair with a big chorus. Passion Fuels is closest to Pop Punk and shows how great the genre can be when it isn't robotic and shouty.

The stand out song though is By A Thread with one of the best choruses that you will hear this year. The verse vocal is a bit more raw which works well and the Guitar Solo is a killer. The band's back catalogue is also Name Your Price. So fill your boots, but please try and drop some cash in the band's direction.

You can listen to and buy the EP here and also find them here.

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