If you took away nothing else from the movie Grease, it was probably that summer lovin’ happens “so fast.” During the warmer months, we often find that our attention spans shorten and our eyes and hearts seek novelty. And because it’d be rather hard for them to visit our houses individually, Math and Physics club have released a summer EP in an attempt to gain our affection.
The EP, entitled Movie Ending Romance, consists of three original tunes and You’re So Good To Me, a Beach Boys cover. While it’s not clear if MAPC want to use this EP to whet our appitites for their eventual full length, it’s sure to entertain their fans in the mean time. Though it appears obvious upon first listen that these guys are still huge fans of the Lucksmiths, it is evident that there is musical growth since their last EP, Weekends Away. Most especially, the production has been stepped up a notch or two. Songs like You’re So Good to Me make full use of the stereo sound through clever layers and subtle instruments. However, at other times it seems almost overwhelming. The ending of White and Grey employs so many instruments that it teeters between beautiful and confusing.
The only area in which Movie Ending Romance falls somewhat short is in the songwriting. Each song is beautiful and dreamy, yes. However, if you listen to it back to back with their first EP, you’ll notice that each song sounds like the preceding one. But it could be worse. If the Beatles had written 10 albums worth of Love Me Do’s and HELP!’s, they still would have been an amazing band. It’s just that stepping out from the Lucksmiths/Camera Obscura/Belle and Sebastian umbrella might do Math and Physics Club some good while they’re still in the childhood of their career.
Now, having read all this, it’s important for you to realize a couple things as well. First of all, Math and Physics Club is still a band that’s trying to find themselves. After only two EPs, we shouldn’t expect them to deliver Tigermilk onto our doorsteps. However, they come close enough for having put out a fun summertime EP. It’s nothing that is going to land them on the charts, and it probably won’t get an 8 on Pitchfork. What it will do is delight and entertain you through the rest of your summer and hopefully even after.
MP3:
Movie Ending Romance
Buy Movie Ending Romance (it’s only $5, people)
MAPC’s Website
Matinee’s Website
My Interview with MAPC
