So I’ll start by being completely honest in saying that when I heard some of the initial teasers and demo tracks that were leaked by Yew over a year ago I was very underwhelmed, but I have learned quite a few times that you cannot judge an album based on any of these sound bytes. And I am glad that I didn’t, because this little gem of an EP has been playing non-stop in my playlist since it’s release.
Yew, if you have not heard of them, is a side project from members of the Connecticut band Jacobi Wichita. Consisting of Matt Swain (drums/keys/samples), Ben Lopez (guitar/bass/turn tables) and Brendan Rodriguez (vocals). Swain recently told BGM, “Yew is basically a group with in the group… kind of like a Wu-Tang thing where the members make projects with in the band.” Also, stating that while Jacobi Witchita is not broken up by any means. However, Yew will be what the group’s focus on for the time being.
While I’ve been listening to the Too EP I have been toiling over different bands to compare Yew’s sound to. The music first reminded me of a funkier version of early Portugal. The Man releases like It’s Complicated Being A Wizard and Waiter: You Vultures! However, I would have to say though that naturally the most comparable band or sound is Jacobi Wichita. JW’s last release Lambsey .Divey EP (released in 2010, the EP was one of Jon’s Top 5 album picks for SLUG Mag’s Annual Top lists) definitely showcased the band stepping closer to perfecting their sound. While Yew is a bit hard to pin down, think along the lines of the intensity and vocal prowess of Glassjaw, some incredible guitar riffs mixed with a little latin and reggae grooves, while always maintaining a hip-hop and urban undertone, accompanied by some really impressive and particularly well utilized sampling and turn tables.
Too opens with the track “Doe,” setting the tone for the EP, a smooth groove and chunky bass line lay the foundation for some haunting keys. The following tracks “Ray” and “Winston” showcase what is truly great about this record, which is the perfect blend of live instrumentation and electronic-synth’s. (Note: All 5 track names refer to the Ghostbusters movies and the “Doe, Ray, Egon,” scene).
These guys are very talented musicians, there are little musical flourishes throughout the EP that fit in so well that you almost miss them the first listen through. Whether it be Lopez’s scratching, Swain’s bass drum triplets at the end of “Winston,” or just a catchy distorted bass riff, this EP gets even more rewarding after multiple listens. The Too Ep also proves to be great footing for the progression of singer Brendan Rodriguez’s vocals, the record features his falsetto more prominently, but it is definitely a treat when he lets loose. His range and tone place him next to some very great frontmen such as Daryl Palumbo (Glassjaw, Head Automatica), Brandon Boyd (Incubus) and Ryan Hunter (NK, Envy on the Coast). The closing tracks “Louis” and “Egon” round out the album nicely and bring a little more guitar back into the mix, while never being too in your face or drowning out the rest of the sound.
With Too, Yew takes all of the same Jacobi Wichita feel and attitude puts an electronic spin on the sound, which definitely sets itself apart from previous JW based efforts. However, it will also feel very familiar to any JW listener, enough so that it seems like the next logical step for the band and their sound. I couldn’t really imagine the next Jacobi Wichita release sounding incredibly different. Regardless, simply put, this is a fun EP and my only gripe would be that there is not more to listen to. Whatever direction the members of Yew and Jacobi Witchita decide to take, I hope that we get to hear some more material in the very near future.
Rating: 4/5
Download Too here