Review:
It's Grimy, It's Honest, It's Fuzzy, It's Catchy, It's...
MIGHTY
"Bye, Have Nice"
Bye, Have Nice! is the debut Ep from MIGHTY, an off-kilter garage rock band with a pop flare. MIGHTY is the brainchild of former Pittsburgher turned Atlanta resident, Angelo Fiaretti (20 years old). He's joined by producer Daniel Gleason (Grouplove, All Get Out) on guitars, bass, and keys, Gordon Keiter (All Get Out) on drums, and mixer/engineer CJ Ridings (Big Jesus) on guitars, bass, and keys. Johnny Dang of O'Brother also adds some slide guitar to the album, adding another Atlanta native to the list of contributors. Recorded in only five days in Fiaretti's kitchen, this EP is best described as a five-course meal.
The album opens with "Fingertip" a grungy anthem that is all over the place. It explodes and implodes at will, just like a plate of jalapeno poppers served up as the appetizer of this meal. The song immediately announces MIGHTY'S arrival with big drums, huge chords, and Fiaretti's proclamation that "Now my head is coming loose". I can't help but describe this song as messy, but in the best sense of the word. The band sounds like it's on the verge of losing it, which only enhances what's going on is Fiaretti's head. It's a short and sweet opener that gears you for more.
Next up is the entree, served up in two songs, "Confederate Days" and "Other Kids". The main course should be both filling and satisfying, which both tracks excel at being. Both have catchy hooks and a chorus to sing along to until next summer. That's when both these tracks should be placed in those Summer, drive playlists or cookout jams, "cough" "cough". I mean you can't listen to the build up at the end of "Confederate days" and not picture fireworks going off. It'd be like learning the lyrics to these songs and not belting out "SPIT!" in the chorus of "Other Kids". With themes on self-discovery and independence, these two songs make for two great underdog anthems. The drums are pounding, the guitars are fuzzy, the choruses are big, and what's going on in Fiaretti's head relates.
We find our desert in track four, "Losing Things". The tempo finally slows down for a spell and MIGHTY shows off their softer side. The guitars make waves of reverb as Fiaretti sings of self-doubt and hope. "I take my blessed time, I grow up, I grow out": a line that anyone who calls themselves an artist can relate too. There are always periods of suffering and backstepping, but out of those moments come growth. You can't grow without getting low and you can definitely tell Fiaretti has grown up since starting MIGHTY when he was 16. Johnny Dang (O'Brother) is featured here, laying down the most peaceful slide guitar I've ever heard. A small touch that in the end makes the song. This is the pallet cleanser before the fifth and final course.
In the last track, we have our nightcap, "Holy Book". Here we say cheers while shooting down fireball whisky and letting off some steam. This song is intense right from the start and showcases my favorite part of Fiaretti's voice; that screeching yell. "Don't wait up you're not worth the time", perfectly exemplifies the vibe this song gives, which is frankly, "fuck you". Although this song is by far the heaviest on the album, it ends with Fiaretti and an acoustic guitar softly singing about letting go of, well, everything. What seems to be off on this track are the synths and that is the only complaint I have for the entire EP. Besides that, it's a great closer to a great album.
What makes this EP especially good is not only the songs, but the musicianship put into the songs. You can tell that Fiaretti surrounds himself with talent that pushes his own talent. It's evident in the performances from all contributors, the killer tones of the guitars, and the explosive performance of Keiter's drumming. As a drummer, I appreciate a drummer who plays to the song and makes every hit count. Also, the production on this release is top notch. Gleason and Riding managed to keep the rawness from the recordings while making it crisp and clean. Every time I listen I find more in the background than before.
Although there's nothing revolutionary in this release, MIGHTY has proven that the indie scene is not dead. MIGHTY are bringing back the rawness and the energy that the scene needs. From catchy riffs, to must sing along anthems, to relatable lyrics, this EP has everything you could want in a first release. It shows that the sky is the limit and MIGHTY arms can reach for it.
Favorite Track: "Confederate Days"
Find the album at:
http://mightytheband.bandcamp.com/
Next up is the entree, served up in two songs, "Confederate Days" and "Other Kids". The main course should be both filling and satisfying, which both tracks excel at being. Both have catchy hooks and a chorus to sing along to until next summer. That's when both these tracks should be placed in those Summer, drive playlists or cookout jams, "cough" "cough". I mean you can't listen to the build up at the end of "Confederate days" and not picture fireworks going off. It'd be like learning the lyrics to these songs and not belting out "SPIT!" in the chorus of "Other Kids". With themes on self-discovery and independence, these two songs make for two great underdog anthems. The drums are pounding, the guitars are fuzzy, the choruses are big, and what's going on in Fiaretti's head relates.
We find our desert in track four, "Losing Things". The tempo finally slows down for a spell and MIGHTY shows off their softer side. The guitars make waves of reverb as Fiaretti sings of self-doubt and hope. "I take my blessed time, I grow up, I grow out": a line that anyone who calls themselves an artist can relate too. There are always periods of suffering and backstepping, but out of those moments come growth. You can't grow without getting low and you can definitely tell Fiaretti has grown up since starting MIGHTY when he was 16. Johnny Dang (O'Brother) is featured here, laying down the most peaceful slide guitar I've ever heard. A small touch that in the end makes the song. This is the pallet cleanser before the fifth and final course.
In the last track, we have our nightcap, "Holy Book". Here we say cheers while shooting down fireball whisky and letting off some steam. This song is intense right from the start and showcases my favorite part of Fiaretti's voice; that screeching yell. "Don't wait up you're not worth the time", perfectly exemplifies the vibe this song gives, which is frankly, "fuck you". Although this song is by far the heaviest on the album, it ends with Fiaretti and an acoustic guitar softly singing about letting go of, well, everything. What seems to be off on this track are the synths and that is the only complaint I have for the entire EP. Besides that, it's a great closer to a great album.
What makes this EP especially good is not only the songs, but the musicianship put into the songs. You can tell that Fiaretti surrounds himself with talent that pushes his own talent. It's evident in the performances from all contributors, the killer tones of the guitars, and the explosive performance of Keiter's drumming. As a drummer, I appreciate a drummer who plays to the song and makes every hit count. Also, the production on this release is top notch. Gleason and Riding managed to keep the rawness from the recordings while making it crisp and clean. Every time I listen I find more in the background than before.
Although there's nothing revolutionary in this release, MIGHTY has proven that the indie scene is not dead. MIGHTY are bringing back the rawness and the energy that the scene needs. From catchy riffs, to must sing along anthems, to relatable lyrics, this EP has everything you could want in a first release. It shows that the sky is the limit and MIGHTY arms can reach for it.
Favorite Track: "Confederate Days"
Find the album at:
http://mightytheband.bandcamp.com/
Photo by Brian Manley
