The Hostels is a four-piece indie rock band from South Wales, UK featuring Ethan Cronin (guitar/vocals), Ethan Sweet (guitar), Flynn Cox (bass) and Euan Cronin (drums). Formed in 2017 while the boys were still in school, they all bonded over their “love of powerful choruses and catchy riffs.” Their desire is to create “feel good anthems in the indie rock and Britpop genres that make a crowd move.” The set was produced, mixed and mastered by Scott “Bonezy” Jones.
“Liar Liar” kicks in with a distinctly Oasis bent with fuzzy guitars and upfront vocals. The band says that this song “tells the story of how quickly someone’s opinion of you can change when a false rumor goes around.” Based on their notes, most of their songs are about someone in your life causing grief or upheaval. At any rate the Hostels’ sound feels rooted in melodic rock without a hint of artifice. “Reset” speeds things up a bit for a song about “someone who refuses to show any kind of dedication or enthusiasm and is generally just a downer.” It’s fun to hear a band cranking up the guitars and vocal vitriol about a person acting as an emotional drag on everyone else. At least it’s not yet another broken-hearted love song! I especially like the double-time changeup toward the end, and I can certainly imagine the crowds jumping around to this one. Thematically similar, “Sheep” is “an indie rock anthem about people who constantly bring you down and treat you as second best.” I like the clever line about “you’re trying to pull the wool over my eyes.” Not sure I like this song as much as “Reset” but on its own terms it’s another killer rock track with especially thick wall-of-sound guitars and vocals. “Take A Hint” is a more traditional “indie rock love song” with a bit of a Big Country attack. The hero of the song is in a troubled relationship but is “too stupid to take a hint.” The vocals and subject matter here recall indie heroes The Weakerthans. I love the lyrical device of “going back down to the river where it all began” in trying to reset the love affair. The final track “Woods” changes things up with a quiet acoustic guitar opening and heartfelt vocals about “smaller bands who have been told their dreams are unrealistic and that they’ll never be cut out for it.” Again, I love the offbeat subject matter and the empathy they show to their musical brethren. The term “it’s a long walk back to the woods” is a great analogy to a band putting in all the work to make it but having to give up and retreat with their tails between their legs. Had a great time with this EP and would love to hear what else they have cooking!
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