The Mondegreens - El Avance

The Mondegreens

El Avance
self-released; 2014

3.6 out of 5

By Eva Cantillo

A light, uplifting, and refreshing take on modern classic rock is what The Mondegreens bring us on their latest release El Avance. The literal translation of the name of this three-song EP is “the advancement.” This is a beautiful allusion to the themes hidden behind the lyrics and vibes of the songs. While listening, I am reminded of other bands like Mutemath, The Black Keys and Spoon, yet The Mondegreens maintain a sound all their own; it’s indie, a bit Americana, and has some surf rock tones that anyone interested in rock in general will be thoroughly entertained by.

The second track on the album titled “The Flock” is a very well composed song and its character shines true and bright and we really get to experience what The Mondegreens are all about. The song begins with a steady guitar that screams indie rock and soon enough the southern-inspired vocals are introduced to add yet another layer to the song. The lyrics begin to tell us a pretty story of the countryside and striving for success and trying to “stay on track.” The addition of the “doo wop wop” adds a vintage and classical Beach Boys vibe to the songs that make them so fun and carefree to listen to. 

Finishing off the album is “Banks,” a song filled with mellow vibes that also carry a tone of refreshing excitement. The “oh no, ohh no,” gets really catchy and acts as a smooth gateway to the following bridge of lyrics that then lead to a beautiful field of fluttering guitars and easy percussion. This song is really fun and entertaining to listen to and I think embodies The Mondegreen’s style and persona very well.

After listening to the three songs within El Avance, it’s easy to hit replay and let them come around once more. Each song has its own attributes to fall for and distinct lyrics to get stuck in your head. The album is well produced and it would be great to see more music from these four musicians that made El Avance and hopefully they keep advancing. 

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