I am waiting for an album to download that I really need to get a review done for but the download is taking for freaking ever. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to use my time wisely and try to pound out a review of a quick EP so I went through my list and landed on the self-titled EP from Wilmette. Six songs at under twenty minutes total? Count me in!
I chose this EP to review because I thought it would be quick but as soon as the opening tack “Show and Tell” took over my speakers, I knew nothing about this would be quick because I had just fallen in love and could feel a trip down a rabbit hole coming when I end listening to this. This opening track packs a punch and instantly gave me Knuckle Puck vibes. It’s harsh and aggressive but, at its core, pop-punk which is absolutely my style. The modern-day version of A Day To Remember, Wilmette showed off the highest of highs and lowest of lows with this opening track and I couldn’t wait for the album to move onto the second track.
“Adderall” continues with that new school pop-punk vibe but there’s something a bit more nostalgic about this track that I instantly fell head over heels for. Think old school Senses Fail with a little Circa Survive and A Day To Remember before they went completely off the track (yeah, I said it). There’s an infectious beat about this song that had me tapping my toe without really noticing it. That infectious beat continued through “Close Enough To Closure” but the song felt a little darker and a little more emotional (in the best way possible). The drums are what stood out to me on this track. They have a hardcore influence behind them but the vocals and guitars keep this from becoming a hardcore album. I’ve always loved that blend but I’ve heard it gone completely wrong. Thankfully, Wilmette knows exactly what they are doing and they nail this intricate blend of pop-punk and hardcore without being anything other than Wilmette.
Fourth on this EP is “Rancho Cucamonga”. Although this song is distinctively Wilmette, there’s something more sensitive about the lows in this song. Lyrically, I would compare this track to The Early November but the instrumentation keeps them from merging head-on into the pop-punk genre. The juxtaposition of the screaming and clean vocals is absolutely perfect. It’s done tastefully and that’s something that I think many bands that try this style just really miss the boat on. The balance is perfect making this a perfect song on a perfect EP.
“Alchemy” starts with a pop-punk edge before going into the blend that Wilmette will go down in history for. This song had me missing live shows terribly. I could smell the sweat, feel the covid-free bodies bumping against me; see the guitar swings and confetti canons on the ready. What I’m trying to say is that the energy in this song is palpable and I will absolutely be driving wherever I need to drive to catch these guys live once live music comes back.
This EP closes out with “All You Are Is All You’ll Ever Be”. Again, a track that is so clearly Wilmette’s, this track seems to play with the strong structure a little bit more than previous tracks and really brings all of the elements that his band can do to the forefront. Each line made me think of different influences and that was only on the first listen. This is a song that you could listen to a million times and hear a million different influences while constantly remembering that this is Wilmette.
My download of the other album I’m supposed to review tonight is done but that’s going to have to wait. I have completely fallen head over heels for Wilmette and plan on spending the rest of the night spilling over anything and everything I can find that these guys have done.
My Favorite Track(s): Literally All of Them
For Fans Of: Nostalgia; Pop-Punk; Modern Pop-Punk; Psuedo Hardcore
Mosh-ability: 9.1 out of 10
What My Cats Thought Of It: Both cats slept on the kitchen table right behind me
How Badly I Want To See This Performed Live: 10 out of 10
My Overall Rating: 9.3 out of 10
Check Out Wilmette Here:
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