Artist Vs Poet - Naughty Or Nice EP
Record Label: Self-Produced
Release Date: December 6, 2011
Who?
Artist Vs Poet is a pop-punk band who has been on a bit of rut since Tarcy Thomason and Joe Westbrook left the band. Having just been dropped from Fearless Records, the guys are in a "trying to go upstream without a paddle" situation. Releasing only two singles since their debut album Favorite Fix, back in March of 2010, the three remaining members decided to put together a free EP for the fans who have stuck with them. Naughty Or Nice is a six track EP dedicated to the winter holidays. The EP contains four covers of familiar Christmas songs, including two original songs. The EP is not exceptional music making, but it is a nice treat that will invoke the feelings of everything Christmas related.
How is it?
The most prominent aspect of the EP is Joe Kirklands vocals. His voice is a bit subdued for most of the E.P, only coming out in bursts that add personaility to the songs; Joe manages to add a bit of his own flavor into each track. The musicianship is fine with nothing being musical amadues, but it being acceptable for what Naughty or Nice is. The E.P also feels a bit jumbled emotionally wise with "Happy Holiday, You Bastard". Nothing is really wrong with the song in particular. Although with the sincerity of the previous two songs still hanging over you, it feels strange hearing the lyrics "Unless your dad will suck me off/ unless your mom will touch my cock/ejaculate into a sock". The song was most likely added to include a bit of humor to the E.P. While I'm sure people will find it amusing and although I did chuckle, I still couldn't shake the feeling that this song shouldn't have been included. Fortunately the piece is only a minute and a half long so it's not that bad.
Artist Vs Poet did a genuinely considerate thing for their fans and Christmas lovers everywhere. The E.P will not blow anyone away musically, nor will any of the covers become instant classics. Yet all I wanted was decent covers of classic Christmas songs and, for the most part, that's what I got. The vocals were great and a lot of Naughty Or Nice instills a feeling of happiness inside you. For me, Naughty Or Nice made me feel like a kid again waiting on Christmas Eve for Santa. Even if you don't think you will like this type of music, give it a try. Artist Vs Poet is letting you download the E.P for free so there is no reason not to. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
The bonus track is one of the worst songs I've heard this year. Such an unfortunate piece of crap. The only thing I really enjoy on this is the Blink cover.
The bonus track is one of the worst songs I've heard this year. Such an unfortunate piece of crap. The only thing I really enjoy on this is the Blink cover.
Eh I didn't think it was that bad. At least they are trying something new from their previous stuff.
Eh I didn't think it was that bad. At least they are trying something new from their previous stuff.
The pseudo-dubstep stuff they were doing on that track was awful. I hope that was just experimentation and not something they plan to continue on with. This is a band that I wouldn't mind if they didn't change it up. Their EP is an all time favorite and Favorite Fix was a top 10 album for me last year. I actually wrote a review for it on this site.
The pseudo-dubstep stuff they were doing on that track was awful. I hope that was just experimentation and not something they plan to continue on with. This is a band that I wouldn't mind if they didn't change it up. Their EP is an all time favorite and Favorite Fix was a top 10 album for me last year. I actually wrote a review for it on this site.
Favorite Fix definitely is a great album, their E.P also. Although I did like that little post-hardcore "SAAAYYYY!!!" Joe did in Never Enough :P. Also I think because they have been off the scene for so long they want to try something different musically to try and bring them back into it. They probably think that if they stick with their current type of music they aren't going to get anywhere.
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