CD REVIEW: SMILE EMPTY SOUL – Shapeshifter

Label: Pavement Entertainment

Release Date: April 1, 2016

Rating: 8.5/10

Reviewed by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur

Smile Empty Soul is one of those bands that are consistent and don’t seem to sway with the trends in modern music.  The trio, founding members Sean Danielsen on lead vocals and guitars, Ryan Martin on bass, along with drummer Jake Kilmer, has just released a new EP that features three new tracks and three re-recorded tracks from the bands 2003 debut release.  “All In My Head” has a cool vibe that shows how solid the guys are as players and writers and how well they gel together as a group.  The music is a little heavy and drones along while the vocals drag the track from open to close.  “Running Out Of Something” is another solid track that follows the path of many Smile Empty Soul songs that came before it, but the drums and bass sound a bit cleaner and more prominent in the mix, accentuating the bottom end of the song.  “Just One Place” kicks off with a great tempo and fun guitar riff that builds slowly throughout the track while the song moves along.  The chorus shifts the gears slightly, but creates a cool time change that suits the groove of the track.  The three tracks that were re-recorded: “Silhouettes,” “Nowhere Kids,” and “Bottom Of A Bottle” do not vary much from the original releases, other than sounding more mature and road tested.  The vocals are just as intense as they were in 2003 and the musical accompaniment sounds tighter thanks to the bands steady touring.

​​​Tracklisting: All In My Head – Running Out Of Something – Just One Place – Silhouettes – Nowhere Kids – Bottom Of A Bottle

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Category: CD Reviews