Headlights: EP Review

Save Me Hollywood is a local band that we follow and you've probably seen them on the blog since we do cover their gigs and I also wrote an album review for their debut "Your Story To Tell" which came out in 2013. When the band started playing new songs from their upcoming sophomore effort we were there to drink in and savor the goodness that new songs bring- at last the thirst has been quenched. 

Last Easter Sunday the band released the video accompanying their catchy single "Everybody Wants You" and fans loved it. The music video ends with a teaser for another video, you know the "to be continued" kind. (You can watch it below). 

The band represented the Philippines in the recently concluded Music Matters Live in Singapore, here they released their new EP Headlights, all copies they brought with them were sold out. They didn't forget about their fans back home though as they recently made the EP available to stream on Spotify. Which is why I am writing this EP review now, originally I thought we would be going to the EP launch, getting a physical copy then I would be able to write an EP review but when it became available to stream on Spotify I literally went now what? 

Headlights On Spotify

As if a response to my question I saw bassist Calde's posts on social media asking fans to let them know what they thought of the new songs and upon seeing that it gave me the resolve to go ahead and write the review :) 

Headlights is a 6 track EP, which opens with the sounds of waves crashing to the shore, you are transported to the beach, to the ocean, you smell the salt in the air, then the drums sound off and the song Headlights plays. Taking a different route from her usual range, vocalist Julz Savard sings in a higher range for this song. It's a raw song which leaves the musicians vulnerable, it's sad and shows the band at a more comfortable stage in their song writing. I remember in one of their shows Julz talks about this song and says "when you're in the headlights, you can't see anything but everyone else can see you" and it's this vulnerable feeling which also transcends to the song. 

After the song plays, you hear the sound of the ocean again, teasing you of the summer that has come to pass, then the short but sweet and catchy Everybody Wants You plays, reminiscent of their more upbeat songs like High from their debut album, the chorus is ingeniously written with lyrics that goes: "Give Me One, Give Me Two, Give Me All Of You..." fans will definitely be screaming-err singing that out loud at gigs and shows. I just wish that the song were longer though, it's so good that you just want more of it. 

Secrets is the next song and no longer has the fun and upbeat characteristic it's predecessor had, the lyrics paint a vivid picture and tell a strong story  "We're in the streets eh, and I just can't sleep eh, So let's keep Secrets eh.." I can really see a couple, sitting on the sidewalk in the early morning, whispering secrets to each other. 

Coming Up Roses continues to show the band's more vulnerable side with lyrics like "I know I'm safe but it can't be that simple, the longer I wait, the more wretched I get" you feel the emptiness but then there is a saving grace in the story of the song with the lyrics "You came along and it all made sense" and it just brings a smile to your face. 

An old song that the band wrote but did not make it to the first album, Hold Your Fire picks up the pace and brings back the energy to which the band is known for. There is more angst in the song "If this means war-it just means you're asking for more" you hear the angry guitar riffs and you know they mean business. A good balance to the rest of the EP which otherwise shows a more mellow side to the band.

The EP closes with a song aptly called Slow It Down, have you ever heard songs that just makes you overcome with emotion and when the guitar adlibs play you just get goosebumps and you feel like crying? Well this is one of those songs, it's so scathing raw you can't help but be sad and calm at the same time. Then you hear the waves again, you're back at the beach and the EP is over, the sounds of the beach making everything come full circle.

Save Me Hollywood performing at Treehouse Tavern. 

The Headlights EP shows us that Save Me Hollywood has more tricks up their sleeves. We see a raw and vulnerable side of them but still delivering well written songs worthy of representing Original Pinoy Music to other countries. There is less distortion giving the new songs a more refined sound. I'm definitely missing their more angsty, let's 'bang our heads' songs like Reckless, We Are One Tonight and Any Press Is Good Press from their debut album. Hopefully there will be a couple of tracks with a similar feel in their yet untitled sophomore album. 

Even if I already have the album on Spotify (you can download it so it's available offline when you go premium) I will still be getting a physical copy of the EP as soon as it's made available. Why? Because I support the artist and the local music industry plus it's an addition to my collection :p I don't have a copy of the very first EP that the band came out with so that sucks and so I also suggest you get Headlights so you won't regret it in the future :p 

Other ways of supporting the band is by listening to their songs on Spotify, voting for their music videos and requesting for their songs on the radio. Of course going to their shows! Hope to see you in one soon :)