On their
Epitaph
debut,
Ariel View
unite all the disparate strands of their music. Just as it took a while for the band's lineup to jell, it took some time for them to blend all of their ideas -- but not as many years as their influences span. Thanks to
Harmonie
and
Heaven Martinez
' bright, clear vocals,
are as deft at revisiting decades-old sounds on the surfy slow dance number "Homespun" and the title track's breezy psych-soul homage as they are at updating the heart-on-sleeve confessions of the 21st century. On "How Much Longer," they give the emo-pop of the early 2000s a more intimate-sounding makeover, while the lunging chords, heroic solos, and start-stop rhythms of "Midnight" make it a highlight.
Until My Lungs Are Cleared
is most compelling when
combine the far-off and not-so-distant past in ways that are distinctively theirs. As they update the timeless combination of an uplifting melody and heartbroken lyrics on "Gone," they find the common ground between pre-pop
Paramore
and '60s girl group swooning. Similarly, "Friday Nights" is a fizz-bomb of heartache, jealousy, and regret with an openly queer perspective that makes it feel unmistakably 2010s.
's songwriting also suggests that they're well on their way to becoming as quotable as
Morrissey
,
Hayley Williams
, and the other lyricists that inspired them. "My heart is fucking heavy/It might take both hands to carry it with me,"
sings on "Summertime" over sweetly retro chord changes that would do
Camera Obscura
proud. On "New York," the band capture the feeling of being with someone while knowing that everything will soon change with lyrics like "You say you'll do whatever you have to/Just to make your roommates like you." Moments like this make
a promising introduction to a band capable of joining the past and future of guitar pop in catchy, relatable new ways. ~ Heather Phares