Self-released, 1 Apr 2023
I thought The Apers were long gone! Social media posts seemed to confirm that and Kevin Apers newer band Sweatpants Party has dropped a killer album of their own. But then, lo-and-behold, a new Apers album has arrived, appropriately titled Surprise!. The four song EP is not just a surprise in and of itself. According to the band, it also is just a start with a new full-length on the way 21 Jun 2023 via Stardumb and Monster Zero. That's wild!
Surprise! features 4 stellar pop punk numbers. “Feeling So Much Better (Now the Girl Got Involved)” has all the insistent lead guitar, catchy guitar progressions, and catchy/snotty melodic lead vocals I could hope for. It's got a poppy and popping pace and the vocal phrasing on the chorus (the “girl got involved” part) won't get outta my head. “Please Don't Leave” is a little slower, leaning into a melancholic feeling on a song that ends up a solid pop number. The band bounces back from that downer vibe on the follow-up “I Don't Really Miss You That Much”, a song with a terrifically catchy chorus, especially when the vocals go into rounds down the stretch. And the closer, “Dudes in the Band”, has hooky lead guitar, muted guitar progressions, and another cool vocal phrasing that digs in deep. This one is set off by the Beach Boys-style “ooh-ooh-ooh” and “bah-bah-bah” backing vocals. There's no bum song of these four and three songs that I'm positively loving (“Feeling”, “Miss”, and “Dudes”). Long live The Apers.
- Favorite Song: “Dudes in the Band” or “Feeling So Much Better” ( I don't wanna choose, so I'm not gonna)
- Album Release Date: 01 Apr 2023
- Purchase/Pre-Order/Pre-Save: streams available on Apple Music and Spotify)
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ryan is a reviewer and news editor for TGEFM. He's very secretive, he might be an alien.