Naming your emo band’s debut EP after one of the most popular emo records of the last decade is certainly a calculated risk. On one hand, you are likely to catch the attention of fans of the band, on the other hand, you’re setting yourself up for direct comparisons to that band for years to come. Based on their love for Mom Jeans on socials, I get the sense that Oklahoma City’s Red Sun doesn’t really care either way. On their debut EP on Thumbs Up Records, Red Sun has created an opening statement that should surely excite “5th wave” emo listeners.
One of the themes lyrically seems to center around regret of acting out in social situations. While this is a common theme in a lot of “post emo,” Red Sun does a nice job of putting their own light touch on things. This is specifically evident on the EP’s centerpiece, “Faker, What Was That!?!.” The track starts off with an honest apology, “I’m sorry for the time I got too drunk to drive and started arguing with everyone at Laurie’s house.” The lyrics are sung in a way that sounds like the singer is actually making their apology to those he offended for the first time through the song. The second verse of the song lightens the mood a bit with the lyrics, “I’m trying to eat right, but counting calories gets hard after 15 Miller Lights.” This is where it’s nice to see a band like this not take themselves too seriously. The lyric is very relatable to anyone who has ever been a heavy drinker in social situations. This track certainly feels like a highlight on the EP as it really shows all of the band’s strengths.
The band really flexes their riff muscles on the last 3 tracks on the EP. Track 4, “Red Sunfo,” is a tappy emo song that wouldn’t feel out of place on a Ben Quad record, while “Faker! What Was That?!” and “Ball McCartney” could sit comfortably on an album with Carly Cosgrove. This isn’t to say that Red Sun aren’t putting their own spin on things, but more so that they have the musical fortitude to hang right with their peers. Fans of those bands should certainly enjoy Red Sun.
It is worth noting that the production is very good on this EP. I think this will help this band connect with the new “post emo” crowd. The drums are punchy and really well tracked, while the vocals are up front and not over compressed. They also make great use of room mics, which can be heard on the EP’s closer which is titled “Ball McCartney.” The song starts with a bouncy guitar riff and some light drums that sound likely they’re captured only with room mics.
The only track I didn’t instantly connect with on the EP was “SAUCY!!!.” The main hook, “you’ll never be like me, you keep it saucey every day,” took me out of the listening experience a bit. Regardless, the song is still very catchy with its infectious hooks and emotional vocal delivery. This song actually highlighted to me that while I may not connect with all of the lyrics, the vocal performance still made everything feel authentic.
For their debut EP, Red Sun has created a small collection of songs that feels very authentic and real. They’ve made a work that I think will stand beside their peers and should get attention from fans of the genre. And hey, at the very least, by checking this out, you can hear that this band is much more than just a Mom Jeans rip-off.
Rating: 8.2/10
Tracklisting:
1) life sucks, then it gets better, and then it sucks again
2) SAUCY!!!
3) faker! what was that?!
4) red SUNFO
5) ball McCartney
Reviewed by Bryan Williams
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