Count Your Lucky Stars, have been gaining speed across the past few years, having released the highly acclaimed The Albatross (2014) by Foxing and Intersections (2013) by DIY’s hardest working man, Evan Weiss. This month CYLS are set to co-release the latest EP by Houston, TX’s Football, Etc. with strictly no capital letters records.
Disappear sounds like an important landmark in the sixth year of the band’s career. The four tracks, recorded with legendary producer J. Robbins (The Promise Ring, Jets To Brazil), are ripe with breezy vocals floating upon strong musical execution that experiments with different chord progressions, and even adding strings to their atmospheric branch of indie/emo-rock.
The core of Football, Etc. is the dynamic musicianship within the trio. Lindsay Minton and Mercy Harper’s emotionally infectious vocals and their expertise in musicianship work well with Daniel Hawkins’ (Papermoons, Pswingset) experience in drumming to craft thoughtful songs that look back at the past while keeping one eye locked on to the future.
All of Football, Etc.’s songs have nostalgic tones to them, but songs like “Sunday” sound vulnerable; the adult innocence of looking back on younger times that everyone can relate to and understand, at any age. ‘Sweep’ progresses onwards, more morose and melancholic than its predecessor, with the added grace of string instrumentation that creates an impacting ambience.
“Receive” is the most upbeat song on Disappear, swaying up and down in speed and progression that showcases the talents of the band, acting as the perfect intro for last song “Open”. The finale is again a gut-wrencher, a sea of emotions threatening to crash down — but somehow managing to keep itself in check. Calm and blissful with a punk heart, “Open” ends the EP on a powerful high note.
If you’re a fan of classic bands in the genre like Rainer Maria and American Football, this EP is for you: another great release from CYLS Records.