Lovedrug - Everything Starts EP

Band Members
Michael Shepard - Vocals, Guitar, Piano
David Thomas Owen IV - Guitar, Vocals
Korey Christopher Jones - Bass
James Childress - Drums

LoveDrugMusic.com
Myspace.com/LoveDrug

Tracklisting
1. Casino Clouds
2. Ghost By Your Side
3. American Swimming Lesson
4. Heart Shaped Box
5. The Praxter

After an impressive debut album, Ohio-based indie boys, Lovedrug, give the world a taste of their new sound with their new EP, "Everything Starts...."
The EP is a preview to Lovedrug's highly anticipated sophomore album, "Everything Starts Where It Ends," to be released in March 2007. Lovedrug laces piano driven melodies and haunting vocals with vivid, narrative lyrics to create a powerful album. Front man and pianist, Michael Shepard, has one of the most unique voices in current music. Shepard's vocals are achingly beautiful and mix perfectly with the powerhouse of sound brought by the rest of the band.

The sound is reminiscent of early Radiohead, with dreamlike melodies to heart dropping rhythms. The EP opens with "Casino Clouds." Built on the backboard of a simple piano tune, it grows into a strong, melodic piece. It is an attention grabbing opening and sets the bar high for the rest of the tracks. Another notable track is "Ghost By Your Side," which is set to be the first single. The lyrics and strong guitar stand out on the song about love and loss. The lyrics about oceans and angels and Shepard's vocals give the song an ethereal quality, while the driving guitar of David Thomas Owen IV grounds the song and makes it tangible.

The only downfall of the EP is that the songs may seem too similar for the casual listener. Though each track has it's own subtle style, listeners may become bored with it. Overall, Lovedrug's EP "Everything Starts..." is enough to tide fans over until the release of their new album and enough to give new listeners a good overview of the band. Lovedrug have proved that they still know how to write powerful and moving songs. "Everything Starts..." makes the March 2007 release of their sophomore album even more anticipated. It's definitely worth a listen.

Rating: 4 / 5

Review by Beth Bursick


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