I feel like I’m both the PERFECT person and the IMPERFECT person to be doing this review: perfect because Everlea are from my hometown and I’ve seen them a few times at free local outdoor shows; imperfect because I never enjoyed those shows. It took me a few listens to get past my hang-ups, but I think I’m starting to see some good in this EP. 

So here’s the good. With the Bedrooms & Basements EP, Everlea are showing some unexpected promise. They’ve progressed since the angry-sad emo crapola of days before. Not that they still aren’t doing the sad, emo thing, but with this EP they’ve decreased the level of crapola and brought some other things into the mix, adding layers and more intricate instrumentation that goes beyond power chord, power chord, power chord. On the whole, these songs are melodic and just about every one has some simple, pretty guitar work that’s nice on the ears.

But here’s the bad. These songs are melodic and just about every one has some simple, pretty guitar work that’s nice on the ears… Even though I’ve listened to this EP a good number of times now, I keep expecting so much more because there is room for so much more. The entire album is on the cusp of something better, just about to fall headfirst into a grander sound-scape that could explode in a slow and sadly beautiful way.

Take “Find a Way”, for instance. This song is okay as it is, but wouldn’t it be kind of amazing if, at some point, they threw in horns and crashing, syncopated drums? They’re on the right track with an all too brief section that features handclaps and some really solid, twanging guitar. But again, Everlea shies away from sustaining anything truly interesting, and the song just peters out, forgettable and unfulfilled.

I realize that this is an acoustic EP, and that generally acoustic albums lean toward the quieter side. I happen to quite like the quieter side. But Bedrooms & Basements sounds like an album made by a band who aren’t really committing to any sound, quiet or not. This music is insubstantial. It’s filler. And this is upsetting because there are quite a few moments in here where Everlea have potential, where they could move beyond their immature whining and bad lyrics about lost loves. (Every. Damn. Song.)

Basically, with the Bedrooms & Basements EP, Everlea improved, but they didn’t really improve all that much. They took a baby step when they should’ve taken at least a toddler step.

So Everlea, if you’re reading this, I think I see where you were you going with this album. I even like where you were (theoretically) going with this album. But next time around, just stretch those legs a bit more, boys.

For more,
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/everlea

Catch Everlea this Saturday at the Rivoli!