Alex Speed - One Year's Time EP

Alex Speed

One Year's Time EP
self-released; 2015

3.4 out of 5

By Jack Dickinson

Music is as essential to Alex Speed’s life as food, water and oxygen. After learning to play the guitar as a child, Speed began writing songs as a teenager and has played many live shows in his home state of Texas. Speed’s biggest gigs to date have included live shows at the Prophet bar in Deep Ellum, TX, a venue that has hosted the likes of the Smithereens and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. 

Speed recorded his debut EP One Year’s Time at January Sounds in Dallas, as well as at his own home in Ft. Worth. The record was mixed by Zorn audio and mastered by Soundlab. The EP was self-released by Speed via Bandcamp on April 14th, 2015.

Lyrically, Speed has a coming of age theme that touches on transitioning from youth to adulthood. However, musically speaking, Alex Speed sounds similar to John Mayer with the song “As Fate Would Have It” being a prime example. There is an overt bluesy vibe with the guitar and vocals playing the most integral part of the song. The song starts to build with energy once a lead guitar finds its way into the mix.

The first song "One Year's Time" starts with soft, serene guitar playing that gets accompanied by a soft hum. Speed flexes his muscles a bit and displays some technically impressive chops. It doesn't take too long for the song to find drums and a bit of grit.

Two tracks that stand out on this EP are “Gone” with its toned down, grunge groove and “The Storm”, a track that seems to highlight Speed’s musical influences with time signatures that shift between soft, Curtis Mayfield-esque guitar playing to fast,  punk rock style chord progressions.

One Year's Time  is his first effort and even though it's far from perfect it shows some potential in an artist that has some innate talent. His guitar playing is impressive and his songwriting is solid.

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