The band Echosmith has quickly made a name for itself with all the right people. The sibling quartet, considered to be the breakout band of the Vans Warped Tour 2013, has quickly seen their popularity skyrocket.
From ranking in Alternative Press magazine’s “100 Bands You Need to Know in 2013” to earning a spot on Warner Bros. Records’ roster, Echosmith has developed a reputation for surprising and entertaining listeners.
Echosmith released its debut album titled “Talking Dreams” today. Produced by Mike Elizondo (Tegan and Sara, No Doubt, Maroon 5), the album makes a strong splash into the world of alternative pop.
The opening track titled “Come Together” opens with fat and transient synthesizers, followed by catchy female vocals that will make listeners’ heads nod and sing along when they least expect it.
The third track, titled “Cool Kids,” has become Echosmith’s most renowned track, thanks to the music video’s frequent rotation on MTVU.
Sydney Sierota’s vocals breathe a mellow, yet vibrant aura into choruses with lingering male background vocals, warm guitar tones and synthesizers filling the rest.
Echosmith never ceases to keep grooving along. Faster paced tracks such as “Nothing’s Wrong” and “March into the Sun” will have fans and doubters alike dancing along.
“Bright” captures the quirkiness of the band – to the point where Zooey Deschanel and Michael Cera would be jealous – and reminds listeners that these siblings are just playing the music they love.
While the album provides a breath of fresh air in the realm of alternative pop, the LP fails to have a breakout moment. Echosmith almost seems hesitant to push the boundaries of their genre and express complete originality and a bold expression of emotion.
“Talking Dreams” has the tendency to blend together to the point where songs begin to sound the same, especially towards the latter half of the album. And though it’s filled with wonderfully written songs and impeccable musicianship, it seems resistant to the kind of expressive ingenuity that’s specific to passion and Echosmith’s sound.
For the future, Echosmith needs to not be afraid to express feelings of emotion and to be boisterous with the talent they possess.
Bottom Line: Expect some pretty incredible things from Echosmith in the near future. The band has clearly indicated that they plan on creating vibrant music, and “Talking Dreams” is a fantastic place to start a promising career. While the album may seem conservative at times and the band expression wavers, it’s well written and packed with songs that listeners will enjoy. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this band find their sound in their sophomore release and become one of the most popular bands in their genre. If you want to see musicians with very high potential create some pretty memorable and catchy music, be sure to keep following Echosmith.
Echosmith will be on tour with Tonight Alive this fall and will be performing in Nashville at The End on Oct. 29.
Rating: 7/10
Favorite Tracks: “Bright” and “March into the Sun”