Victorian Halls

Victorian Halls sound a shitload like the Blood Brothers, but since they're doing it well enough, it's hard to complain too much. Stylistically, this four-song EP has spazzy, sassy melodies that tend to reside somewhere between Burn, Piano Island, Burn and Crimes, only with more emphasis on the pop and less on chaos.

"Desperate Storyline" is full of Johnny Whitney-esque cackling and dancing piano lines, while "Neon Skies Light Up My Nerves" with all its "oh"s and "whoa"s could easily be a college radio hit. "It's Not Fad, It's Etiquette" has some more stomping parts, while the more grim closer "I'm Gonna Eat Your Brains and Gain Your Knowledge" could easily be a Young Machetes outtake.

I haven't heard the band's previous release, last year's Springteen, but I doubt it's as developed and imaginative as the band's tunes on this. Despite the blatant similarities present, those craving something to directly fill the void the Bloods left with their breakup in late '07 should find Victorian Halls doing the trick quite well.

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Victorian Halls EP