Boutique indie label Secret Song Records hopes to leave a permanent mark on the Columbus scene, and one vehicle they hope to use for that purpose is The Seasonal Help. The band carries a whole bevy of influences, making them a local standout.
What does The Seasonal Help sound like? The subgenres in rock music they employ are varied enough that any attempt to point them out will seem like I am throwing a bunch of jargon at the wall until something sticks. Nonetheless, I will try; noise-rock, shoegaze, garage rock are the first three to come to mind.
The enjoyable thing about this EP is that it fits the mold of the recent trend to make washed out rock music primarily geared toward the indie crowd, yet feels like ear candy. “Sleeping On the Couch,” for instance has a bass line that will get you grooving in no time. If you are well-versed in obscure indie rock, you might get the impression that this song sounds like As Cities Burn’s “Made Too Pretty,” just a little bit. The subtle, sway back and forth vibe of “Pat on the Back Parade” hooks the listener in from the get go, making sure they are curious enough to stay at least until the sultry bass line of the aforementioned “Sleeping on the Couch,” where any listener with indie bias will be sucked in for good. The record is not without its angsty moments – just take “A Dozen Hurried Steps” for example, a song that nearly crosses into the noise-punk realm were it not for the time-signature nuance. This music is made for the house shows of Brooklyn and Old North Columbus. Should the band outgrow house show status? For the sake of their success, yes. But, they face the impossible challenge of reaping the consequences of bringing their intimate, balls to the wall sound to larger environments. The diversity in influences of this EP shows the band’s ability to adapt, so I am optimistic.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKorrqxqDpw&w=450&h=297]
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