Review: Liily EP by Liily
Album artwork by @charliealexanderkorman, Photos by @bradleyjcalder
A week ago, alternative rock/post-punk/dance-punk band Liily released their much anticipated follow up to 2021’s TV or Not TV.
During Ballad Magazine’s recent interview with the band, they discussed how this new album was the result of mercilessly trying different techniques and the influence of several producers who gave them a new found energy. After one week of listening, I can honestly say that this album brings an entirely new energy that gives the band such a great sound while still feeling familiar. The energy feels raw and passionate. It seems to have taken the energy that was already present on past releases and cranked it up to a new level.
Several things of note upon listening to this EP many times over the last week: singer Dylan Nash’s vocals have brought in a heavier load of more punk influenced screaming, but it doesn’t feel like a dramatic shift from his previous styles. The band also has incorporated more electronic influences into their songs (“More” for example has a section towards the end that has very EDM influenced sounds).
The EP starts out with the song “IMITATE.” During our discussion, Nash mentioned that he began incorporating a more balanced amount of screaming and singing. IMITATE, as the first song, shows off this new approach that blends punk-esque screaming that also at times (including the chorus) is very melodic. This adds a really raw sound, but maintains their ability to create catchy melodies. The battery of Charlie Anastasis (bass) and Maxx Morando (drums) add a very thunderous groove to this song that helps drive the sound, while Sam de la Torre (guitars) adds depth to the sound with his aggressive style of play.
Next is “BOOM BOOM” which has a much more classic punk style. The song, which clocks in at a little over a minute, comes out of the gate with a great drum intro that gives way to a chaotic performance by the band. A little over half-way through, Nash even has a short a capella section before the blistering conclusion to the song.
The EP’s first single, “MORE” follows. Anastasis starts out the tune with a groovy bass intro that leads into a verse that feels very Gorillaz-esque while also being distinctively Liily. It has a great casual groove that builds to a slightly more aggressive take on the verse before hitting the balls-to-the-wall chorus. The chorus explodes with Nash’s aggressive vocals over a wall of sound that just makes you want to rage. This song also features the album's first exploration of their dance music inspiration. Following the chorus comes an interesting breakdown featuring EDM style effects (every time I hear this part, I think of that Key and Peele EDM skit…very fitting). “IMITATE” and “MORE” are currently vying for my favorite songs on the record.
“TALLER” begins with a fun drum intro that adds a great bass line from Anastasis. While the bass has a fairly warm tone, it still somehow manages to give the song a really tense feeling (I could see this line precipitating the final act of a heist film). The first verse has a great groove that is driven by the drums and bass before building to a great atmospheric guitar part by de la Torre. I love the fact that the guitar part at points in the chorus mimics the bass’ building of tension (despite the lines being very different). “TALLER” also happens to be the most mellow song on the album. Taking a break from the screaming and overdriven effects of the previous songs, the band utilizes more natural or atmospheric effects to give the song a big sound. I love the placement of the song here as an almost antithesis to “MORE”. Both songs manage to achieve the same effect of having a big chorus, but they take two different paths to get there.
“Motivation” begins with a very ominous guitar intro that leads into a very vocally rhythmic verse. The verse builds with the bass and drums until the chorus explodes. Once again, the band builds a wall of sound with the bass, drums and guitar to provide the perfect sonic companion for Nash’s vocals. The second verse incorporates an interesting call-and-response style where Nash call’s with the rhythmic vocals from the first verse and then responds with crowd vocals. This is a really cool way to tie the feel of the verse and chorus together.
Closing out the EP is the EP’s second single, “SWALLOW.” This definitely is the most distinct song on the record. “SWALLOW” has a much more alternative or grunge rock influence than it’s counterparts on the album. The chorus in particular feels like it would feel at home in a Nirvana song. One of my favorite moments in the song comes in the second verse when the guitar style switches to a sound that, in conjunction with the drums and bass, injects an almost industrial metal groove into the song. It’s an unexpected shift in the sound, but I absolutely love it because it blends the sound perfectly into the next chorus.
I have found myself listening to this record regularly since it dropped. I am absolutely loving the new sound that the band brings to the table with these six songs. It is undeniable that the band’s hiatus allowed them to refocus and find the passion for the music that they are playing. The songs, despite some being two years old at this point, feel fresh and ooze an enthusiasm that leaves you wanting more.
If you want to give the EP a list yourself, you can find it on all streaming platforms. If you are on Spotify, you can also listen to both singles from the album on our Ballad Mag bops playlist. You can find Liily on socials @liilytheband and on their website www.liilytheband.com. They are also on tour beginning on July 17th, so check them out at a city near you.