EP Review by Mark Bayross
After the four-song EP NO RETURN, LABELS marks the second collaboration between Pennsylvania four-piece Feedback and co-producers VexX (of the band Moonseed) and the Grammy-winning David Ivory (who has worked with the likes of Erykah Badu and The Roots).
Although the band originally formed to play heavy metal, this has now been dispensed with entirely in favour of melodic college rock. With a stripped-down, rhythm-driven sound (the resonant drums dominate much of the record), and Chris Anderson’s distant, occasionally flat, indie vocals, this is rock music as safe as houses.
There are moments – such as the fuzzed-up, pounding OVER ME – when, as they claim with the title of their website, Feedback rocks, but for the most part, this is occasionally funky blues rock, kinda Pearl Jam meets the Chilis.
This mini-album won’t set your world on fire, but it’s certainly catchy, and the band are clearly talented musicians. It’s early days for Feedback and there’s plenty here to indicate that the band have a future.
