In certain moments throughout music history, it feels as if there’s always been a slight clash when deciding what defines indie-rock. It’s something you’ve heard people discuss ever since we started to see the rise of modern qualities within post-punk in the 90s. But what if the boundaries of how we envision alternative rock can be stretched —better yet, in how it is executed? That’s what Your Favorite Color does for us with their new EP Comets & Roses, which dropped last friday.
The four-piece hails from Huntington Beach, which allows the group to intertwine their ideals of surf, sun, and garage-rock all into one space. With the group consisting of vocalist Matt Warren, guitarist David Silveria, keyboardist Nicky Neighbors, drummer Johnny Arnold and bassist Ari Miranda, the band generates an authentic aesthetic with the help of their ‘cool as hell’ red jumpsuits that pair with their glossy alt-pop sound, while still holding a punk atmosphere throughout. This is highly apparent when we dive into the first track off the EP “Humans,” as the intro forms a thick reverberated bass line that shoots you straight to Matt Warren howling, “Let me down, I don’t care. I just want to feel something,” and while the lyrics can be perceived as weepy, the group’s delivery is more passionate than dreary, which beautifully frames the attitude of the EP as a whole.
As the high use of reverb with each vocal line and guitar melody are applied into each track, it seems as if you’ll find it more steadily following into “Dreaming.” This specific track will have you ready to yell from the rooftop of the bar you’re in at 1a.m., all while creating a mosh pit all on your own even if no one else seems to be joining. The project repositions to another tone entirely with “Send Your Love” as it takes a slower stance from the help of the synth as it sets the rhythmic tempo of the song. As the synthesizer wavers back and forth into the melody of the guitar which polishes nicely against it, you can sense that for the time being the slow cadence is short and sweet; it won’t be lasting long as you go down the list of tracks in the EP itself.
As it flows into “Turn Me On” and “Satellite,” our attention is now more focused on the fuzzy swoons you hear in the guitar and vocal riffs. We’re then dropped off at the finish line with “This Time We Have,” as the synth returns once again to create a dreamy yet ambient build up to the end. It wraps up effortlessly with a yearning and nostalgic tonality which allows the EP to conclude in the most utterly charming way. Ending off with vocalist Warren saying, “You cannot understand this time we have.”
It is a means of creating a personal touch but somehow allowing the hard blares of alternative rock to scorch deep into the project. The EP validates that this isn’t just a ‘one hit wonder’ for the springtime, but a collection of songs that are simply on the rise to something even bigger this year—and we can’t wait to watch it grow.
You can listen to Comets & Roses now on all music platforms, listen here:
