Ottawa-based punk band Quinnzelle are undoubtedly wearing their influences on their sleeve with the release of their self-titled debut EP. The issue with this, however, is that they're just surrendering to the formula. Quinnzelle lack originality and take the easy way out, with no challenge or depth.
The EP begins with a "joke" song in typical pop-punk fashion —"Darling" is about 40 seconds of heavy drumming and minimal, surface-level lyrics about sex. "Darling" serves little purpose; if anything, it feels like more like a conclusion instead of a beginning.
"Unpopular Opinion," arguably the weakest track, is mixed poorly; the drumming is uncomfortably too high and it's hard to differentiate the poor production from the song itself. "For Tonight" also follows a typical pop-punk formula. Much like Blink 182's "Adam's Song" or "I Miss You," "For Tonight" stands out as the song Quinnzelle should hold onto if they move forward, showing more diversity, maturity and talent.
Quinnzelle undeniably demonstrate passion and enthusiasm, but if they want to be taken seriously, they need to tighten up their production and try to move away from the pop-punk formula that may have worked in 1999, but appears far too familiar and flat in 2017.
(Independent)The EP begins with a "joke" song in typical pop-punk fashion —"Darling" is about 40 seconds of heavy drumming and minimal, surface-level lyrics about sex. "Darling" serves little purpose; if anything, it feels like more like a conclusion instead of a beginning.
"Unpopular Opinion," arguably the weakest track, is mixed poorly; the drumming is uncomfortably too high and it's hard to differentiate the poor production from the song itself. "For Tonight" also follows a typical pop-punk formula. Much like Blink 182's "Adam's Song" or "I Miss You," "For Tonight" stands out as the song Quinnzelle should hold onto if they move forward, showing more diversity, maturity and talent.
Quinnzelle undeniably demonstrate passion and enthusiasm, but if they want to be taken seriously, they need to tighten up their production and try to move away from the pop-punk formula that may have worked in 1999, but appears far too familiar and flat in 2017.
