Sometimes you can just hear the passion in a voice. ZEPHR is one of those bands. They defy convention a little bit, in that I associate gravelly voices with harsher, heavier sounds, but ZEPHR use sore-throat vocals to great effect with midtempo, emotional and melodic 3-chord chugging punk rock and some DC sound. In few words, it's raw, both musically and vocally. That said, the songs here are still all built on melody, including a couple classic "whoa ohs." If I had to distill it down, I'd say that ZEPHR play beardpunk with a little extra grit. Pop at heart, gritty by nature, pure at heart, and at its best in a 100-degree dim basement.
The songs on Past Lives are often directly personal in the lyrics, with familial references in "Past Lives" and the tribute "My Memorial Day" near the finish. That said, I'll pick out "Cannery Row" as a "typical" song from the band. It has a whoa-oh chorus, power chord core, and raw production. This is sort of a deep cut, if you will, of the band's style. If I were to pick out highlights (which is kind of the point in a review, I suppose), "Bitter" is an early tone setter that features dual vocals with building energy and ear-catching hooks that balance with the throat-shredding refrain.
I've listened to a few of their records at this point and the biggest thing I hear that's new on Past Lives is the dual vocals and a growing depth to the songwriting. The core mood hasn't changed, but the sound is getting more expansive -- especially for a trio.
While I've highlighted the harsher voice so far, songs like "Cry The Dawn" come entirely from the second vocalist and it's a lot cleaner and more classic singsong in style, rather than shouted. These have always been present, but the differing vocal styles draw it into the spotlight a little more. The title track brings everything together: coarse but melodic lead vocals, guitar/bass interplay, and a pop song structure that's memorable but with distinct movements and mood shifts. They even draw things out with a 6-minute album closer in "Perfume Memory" and with layered acoustic guitar in "My Memorial Day." Overall I find the energy of the record flows better when it's a driving beat but the songs that branch out are sequenced really well and they add depth and dimension without killing the mood.
If you like Jawbreaker, The Lawrence Arms, A.D.D. Records, The Fest, and raw guitar sounds I recommend checking this out. I enjoyed previous records but, contrary to its title, I feel like Past Lives is a step forward.
