Artist: The Spill Canvas
Album: Abnormalities EP
Label: Sire
Release Date: January 12th
Genre: Alternative
MySpace | Website | Buy
Rating: 
EPs aren’t made to sell. They’re generally released in order to supply fans or record labels with a taste of new music from the band, or in order to get a few B-sides out into the world. They generally do not contain a portion of the artist’s best work. There are exceptions of course - note Animal Collective’s Fall Be Kind or Death Cab For Cutie’s The Open Door from 2009. But a fan (or a critic) never knows what to expect when pressing play and breaking the hymen of a new EP.
However, The Spill Canvas’ newest 3-song EP, Abnormalities, will quickly whore itself out to your ears. There is very much to like about it, and very little to dislike. Listening to the band’s first two releases, and to an extent their third (the 2005 emo scene highlight One Fell Swoop), it’s hard to believe that the band would evolve from an indie rock band with tongue-in-cheek lyrics to…this. An album (2007’s No Really, I’m Fine) and an EP that showcase the band’s potential as one of the most promising rock acts in existence.
“Gateway Drug” kicks off the three songs, and stands with “All Over You” as one of the band’s most memorable moments. 70s rock roots lead into a singalong chorus: “you are my gateway drug, you pull me down and fuck me up.” This is what Daughtry might sound like if he raised his middle finger to the major labels. But it’s doubtful, because he’s not as talented as The Spill Canvas. He or anyone else would be challenged to write a song as addictive as the Steppenwolf/Juliana Theory cross “Good Graces, Bad Influence” and include it on a full-length, much less an EP. There’s not much to else to say; listeners must simply hear it for themselves. And then cross their fingers for a new album sometime this year.
Track Listing:
1. Gateway Drug
2. Don’t Let Your Enemies Become Friends
3. Good Graces, Bad Influence
Similar To: Mayday Parade, Fall Out Boy, My American Heart
Review by: Jordy K.
Very well-written, clear, enjoyable review. I like the Similar to: line. One fault of this site: I need links to hear some of the music. Descriptions can’t give me the whole picture where sound is concerned.
Laura: Links to the band’s MySpace and Official Website are located at the top!!
Denis, I believe what she’s referring to is embedded media players, which are growing in popularity because of the ease of selecting a song and pressing “play” from the page you’re already on.
Not only is it more convenient, but MySpace has lower sound quality than, say, Lala’s free embedded media player service. MySpace Music is becoming obsolete quickly. No-one wants to click a link and search a flashy, annoying, cluttered page when they can press play and listen while they’re reading.