Cassavetes: Oh So Long

Artist: Cassavetes
Title: Oh So Long
Format Reviewed: MP3
Format Released: 26th August 2014
Reviewed By: Alex Wood

I'll make a confession. I like old fashioned things. Tabloid newspapers, nuclear proof Nokias and a little booklet for my season ticket.

You can keep your iPhone, fancy online content and swipe entry. What's wrong with a bit of vintage? After all, constantly trying to re-invent the wheel can get tedious.

If you're the sort of music fan that likes a bit of retro rock, this EP by US based 4 piece, Cassavetes, is well worth investigating.

To be clear, in case you're having visions of a Status Quo tribute act, let me clarify what I mean by “retro rock”. Cassavetes hark back to 90's grunge: Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and early Foo Fighters. Certainly from my point of view, that's definitely not a bad thing.

It's a genre that's gone in and out of fashion, but still manages to evoke memories of angst-ridden teenage years for listeners of a certain age. If you've ever turned up Smells Like Teen Spirit to 11 in your parents' garage, you'll feel more than a whiff of nostalgia as you nod through the tracks on Oh So Long.

Let's be clear, there's nothing remotely ground breaking in any of these eight songs. That might sound unnecessarily cutting, but it's actually meant as back-handed compliment. What it does have is great vocals, heartfelt lyrics and chest thumping guitar work. Melodic, yet aggressive in parts, it's an album that's hard not to like.

The splattering of lairy and combative tracks are hardly surprising given Cassavetes' punk and hardcore background, but it's the more toned down and mellow tunes that really impress.

After the raucous and rambunctious opening tracks, Tied Down and Follow, you're treated to Extra Clear which offers a mature and alternative sound.

On a first listen not every song is an instant winner. Nevertheless, I'd implore you to persevere. Maribel is a real grower with exuberant guitar rifts and a punk focus. It's this track that gives you a real flavour for the band's heritage.

Like Ghosts is one of the marginally weaker tracks on the album. It feels a tad disjointed but you'll still end up tapping a foot.

By a significant margin, the truly stand-out track is the one that the album is named after. Oh So Long is a quiet, stripped back song with an acoustic vibe and a clear mainstream appeal. It's a soothing and emotional song that I'd happily listen to over and over. You can see a major radio station playing this during the day. Personally, I view that positively.

Cassavetes have produced an enjoyable album here. If, like me, you love the 90’s grunge era Oh So Long will make a welcome modern addition to your music collection.