I hope you are having an amazing Monday! Mine is still going strong although my motivation levels are starting to falter. The only way I know how to remedy that situation is by checking out some new music so let’s give the ‘Same Blood’ EP from Gentle Temper a listen!
As soon as the title track, “Same Blood”, took over my speakers, I knew I had made the right call as to what album to check out right now. Powerful and anthemic while having an undeniable sense of tenderness and passion that reigns supreme throughout this opening track, I was instantly reminded of that period of time where all I could listen to was bands like Of Monsters and Men and The Lumineers. I’m not saying that Gentle Temper’s sound is a direct carbon copy of those two bands but the vibe is pretty similar. Just having this song and this band’s distinct sound sink into my soul was an experience. All of the stress that had been building up throughout the day seemed to melt away with every stunning word that crossed through my speakers. Don’t be fooled, as I mentioned, although this track has a definite vibe, the different movements and parts of this track had me on the edge of my seat. The song definitely didn’t go in all of the directions that I thought it would but every twist and turn made sense and had me falling deeper and deeper in love with Gentle Temper.
“Triple Dog Dare” brings the sense of tenderness felt in “Same Blood” to the forefront. Although still just as anthemic and emotionally powerful, there’s just something a bit deeper about this song that instantly had me hooked. Although it’s the instrumentation of this band that really stands out as being a signature feature of their sound, it was the vocals throughout this song that had the goosebumps forming on my arms. They are soft and sweet but tell an undeniable story full of passion and emotion. There’s an absolutely stunning crescendo about halfway through this track that had chills going up my spine. Again, like “Same Blood”, although the overall style of this track felt familiar, the way Gentle Temper organizes their songs is stunning and surprising in all of the best ways.
Although there’s still Gentle Temper’s signature air of tenderness in “Good Talk”, this track comes with a little bit more playful of a vibe making it an instant favorite of mine. Although there are both male and female vocals throughout this release, the female vocals seem to take the lead majority of the time but you really get to hear the male vocals in this one and it’s amazing. Just as stunning and emotive as the vocals in the previous tracks, I found myself falling for every single word a little bit more than the last in this track all the while keeping a smile on my face and a tap in my toe. This track is nothing short of infectious and will absolutely be added to my personal “Wake Up And Smile” playlist. It’s just such a feel-good track.
The more subdued and almost moody vibe that Gentle Temple does so well comes back in “Safe Bet” but it takes a new form. This track has an almost jazzy influence to it that kept that smile that formed during “Good Talk” stuck on my face. Although not as whimsical, this track is still just as playful and fun as the last one. Although there’s still one track left on this EP, I found my heart breaking a little bit as I listened to “Safe Bet” and realized that I only had one track left. I tried not to dwell on it which was easy because this track was such an easy one to get lost in.
All good things must come to an end and this gorgeous and fun EP ends with “New Neighbors”. Definitely the most emotional track on this EP, I loved how Gentle Temper ended this release on such a note of beauty. I feel like this song shows a completely different side of this band from what I got in the previous tracks but I was completely sold on this side too. It’s a bit moodier, a bit darker and it leads itself super nicely to a moment of introspective thought. The lines of words and notes come in and out like waves giving the track an undeniable sense of movement. This is seriously a stunning closer to the album because it definitely ends the journey perfectly while making you want oh so much more.
Beautiful, fun, serious, whimsical– you get it all in this quick EP from Gentle Temper. Although a bit out of what I normally listen to on a day to day basis, I know this is going to be one of those albums that I come back to frequently.
My Favorite Track(s): “Good Talk”
For Fans Of: Whimsy; Smiling; Toe Tapping
Mosh-ability: 3 out of 10
What My Cats Thought Of It: Artie laid on the back of the couch; Autumn slept upstairs
How Badly I Want To See This Performed Live: 8 out of 10
My Overall Rating: 9.2 out of 10
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