PET ROCK’S REVOLUTION: EP REVIEW
Pet Rock, the Indie/ Emo band from Tampa, Florida, has just released their brand new EP titled Revolutions. This is their second release, following their first album in 2022 called King Sad. In Revolutions, Pet Rock takes a more serious turn with an edgier tone sonically, and thematically, addressing topics varying from mental health to burn out.
We’re introduced to Revolutions with track 1, titled “Wait a Minute.” The introduction slowly weans us into a raw guitar pitch, and at about fifteen seconds in, we’re hit with the drums. Although we’re hearing really heavy and strong instrumentals right off the bat, something I really enjoy is that this doesn’t take away from the vocals. They’re clear and crisp, and compliment the melody really well. “Wait a Minute” is a really great way to open this EP, because we’re starting out with something discussing time. I find it clever when a band/ artist chooses track formation in a way that could hold deeper meaning, and considering we’re only at the beginning of this collection of songs that holds many deep topics, being told to “Hold on, wait a minute” and “take your time,” is a good way to bleed into those introductions. I really loved how the bridge begins with a drum breakdown before we’re taken into the lyrics, as well; I think that in terms of production, this is cut flawlessly and the instrumentals are top notch.
Following “Wait a Minute,” we’re taken into track 2, called “Litterbug.” In juxtaposition to the first song, “Litterbug” hops right into a more even- tempered melody, although still heavy on both drums and guitar. I knew that I would be partial to this track as soon as I heard the vocals. The echoey tone, combined with that same drum rhythm create a great combination that I really enjoy. The chorus is simple, but really strong, and I think that the metaphor of throwing something away as the parallel to the song title is really clever. With about forty seconds left of the song, we lose almost all of the instrumental, save for the drums, and it almost sounds like we’re hearing the song through a phone call. I thought that this inclusion was brilliant, because the song is addressing someone, and at this point it feels like we’re doing whatever we can to get through to them.
The third and final track in Revolutions is called “Pick-Me-Up.” I like that the title is hyphenated, because just from the track title, it’s clear that we’re hearing about a pick-me-up in terms of making someone feel better. This track starts off with a quicker and enthusiastic tone, which is great for a closing track. In my opinion, the background vocals are what completes this song. The “ooohs” behind the vocals in the chorus provide a more playful element to what is a rather serious song, and that element rounds out the entire thing. This song would sound great in a movie soundtrack, because all of these elements of chaos and whim would provide a great set-up for a coming-of-age moment. Although “Revolutions” is on the shorter side, considering there are only three tracks, the quality makes up for the quantity, undoubtedly. Here we have a perfect example of three really strong songs that not only show off great vocals and instrumentals, but differ in tone, themes, and energy.
Pet Rock’s EP Revolutions is available for streaming here!
