Unpredictability is arguably the best part of being a music junkie. We acquire the inevitable undertaking of expecting the unexpected, especially in terms of analyzing various genres of music. However, this rising Princeton, NJ-based post-punk band, The Antics, perfectly epitomizes that common phrase, and in the best possible way. With over 100,000 Facebook likes since the release of their first EP, Send It Out, they have followed up on their progress with their six-song EP, Emily Jones, which, judging by a first-timer’s listen, sounds like a promising pursuit.
The Antics have a diverse grouping of alternative rock borderline indie tracks that are fairly comparable to a rollercoaster ride. Interpretations vary from anticipation to pure excitement, in an unterrified, non-adrenaline-pinching kind of way. There are a few unexpected twists and turns in tracks like “I Want To Understand” and “When I’m Alone,” but they are mostly prominent in the lengthiest track on the album, “Forget.” This is probably the most perplexing single on Emily Jones, considering the captivating implementation of not just instrumental expertise, but also the incorporation of the natural soundscapes that most of us probably take for granted; like the cacophonous blend of rain and thunder.
With over three minutes into the song, “Forget,” the listener has a fairly good idea of where the tune will leave off—until the band pulls a total 180, and the listener is hit by a wave of guitar riffs clashing with evocative vocals, thus drastically transforming the piece into something totally new and rhythmically altered. All of this combined produces a rigorous sound that is similar to the signature style of Elvis Costello and The Attractions. As for the rest of the tracks, they all flow in accordance with the listener’s expectations, with traces of contrasting upbeat choruses and bridges.
The Antics’ ability to follow up their first EP with one that expands upon the modernization of traditional rock values is certainly commendable, and makes the band well-worth looking into. In looking back at some of the greatest musicians ever to come from Jersey, Emily Jones is definitely a step in the right direction, and it’s possible we may be looking at our next rising stars of an ever-changing genre.
In A Word: Eclectic
