Hello Reader,
Welcome back. How are you?
Today we’re going to delve into Club Paradise again. The Newcastle UK-based band features Ryan Young (vocals/guitar), Jackson Vert (lead guitar), Harry Webb (bass), and Nathan Hogg (drums). A little less than a month ago we shared the announcement of their upcoming EP and one of the singles from their new EP, Life on TV and a new single “Runaways”. We’re happy to share that the Life on TV EP is now out Friday, October 11th for your listening pleasure.
In their press release for this EP, Club Paradise said of the opening song, “We’re screaming Let Me Lose because we don’t have that choice anymore. There’s no fallback or safety net in life, and social media adds to that with everyone only sharing the image they want you to see. It’s not true, we’re all the same. We’re all trying to have a great time wherever we can, whatever that looks like. Just let us feel like it’s ok to lose sometimes.” There are common themes throughout the album, not just limited to that song.
And now for some hype for your ears:
The contemplative, “What If These Days”:
(All credits and rights to Club Paradise)
The examining and catchy, “Years”:
(All credits and rights to Club Paradise)
Overall, Life on TV is a very good EP. Throughout the album, you’ll hear compositions that match the melodies with the lead vocals. Perhaps better matched than most bands you’ll hear. Listener, what do you think? I also enjoyed the pairing of different vocal tones to create harmonies to memorable effect from multiple members of Club Paradise. There are several on the surface feel good, summery melodies that contrasted with darker, introspective lyrics with wonderful success. The lyrics within this EP often have memorable hooks and catchy refrains in a way that pop music uses more often than some other genres. There seems to be some songwriting growth and composition growth since the bands previous release. There is good flow from one song to the next with some mood and thematic overlap.
“Let Me Lose” kicks off the album with harmonized vocals over a minimal instrumentation of keys allowing the listener to focus solely on the vocals. The melody increases intensity starting at the :30 mark into the song, adding additional instrumentation and more exasperated vocal delivery. Which matches the despair and frustration within the lyrics themselves. Just over halfway into the song, we hear some pounding drumbeats by Hogg and vocals that are passionately screamed into the ethos by lead vocalist Young. The drums are joined by a wall of sound to close the song.
Whereas the tone of the melody of the previous song was bleaker, “Chasing The Summer” starts with more upbeat mood. Some incredible guitar work by lead guitarist Vert is joined by equally great drum progressions to create an alternative rock style melody that ventures into pop at times. It may remind listeners of songs they may have heard in the past, and to me that is a testament to the composition of the song itself. The lyrics again are reflective, looking both inward to the past, present and future longingly. Again, the vocals pair well with the melody, showing more signs of a good composition by the band.
The opening of “What If These Days” shimmers based on its melody. The guitars shine on the intro and the drums keep steady pace before the melody quiets temporarily to allow Young to drop and deliver melancholy and weary in tone. This is the third song on the EP and Young has altered his delivery in each one, matching the composition. Kudos to the entire band. Shortly thereafter Young uses refrain to hammer the lyrics that question and examine and mood home. An awesome guitar solo highlights the nearly halfway point of this song before quieting and moving onto a new progression, back to match earlier in the song. A chant like vocal delivery in the outro as the song fades out.
“Runaways” begins like a straightforward rock melody. A solid playthrough of the drum kit, kick drum by Hogg and lively guitar work. Followed by Young’s alternative rock vocal delivery that goes toe to toe with the melody. Shortly thereafter the band uses an outstanding use of harmonies to pair with Young’s own vocals. To me, it is a great pairing as they have different vocal tones yet blend together to create memorable harmonies and it creates a new sound for the band relative to previous songs. The lyrics are reflective, looking at past memories while looking to create new ones elsewhere.
The next song, “Years” takes off in a similar fashion to “Runaways” but features the guitar a bit more prominently, especially in the song’s intro. In addition, Young’s vocals are a bit higher pitched in tone and strained by choice, again to pair with the melody to lovely effect. The lyrics examine and are satisfied. Not to the point of bliss, but happier in the present than the eras they examine.
“Interstate”, the last song on the EP begins with a slower start. The melody is anchored by keys and Young’s vocals. About :45 into the song, driving drums from Hogg kick off a melodic shift. The lyrics are resilient, sticking with a decision made. The ending is perfect wordplay and composition choice as the song stops abruptly on the word ‘stop.’ Kudos on that decision, Club Paradise.
Life on TV gets 4 out of 5 Scum Drops from me. There’s a lot to like about this EP and this band regardless of your genre preferences or age. The band is talented, and you’ll enjoy this EP. Rating Life on TV within the 4 Scum Drops range seems appropriate to me, relative to all EPs released in 2024. To be more specific, I’d place it in the upper end of the rating, somewhere in the 80th-83rd percentile. Long-time fans, is this the band’s best work yet? Add it to your collection on the format of your choice.
Life on TV Track listing (song length)
- Let Me Lose (3:50)
- Chasing The Summer (3:51)
- What If These Days (4:50)
- Runaways (3:11)
- Years (3:26)
- Interstate (2:40)
Total runtime: 21:48
I’ll always advocate that you take the time to listen to every album and EP in its entirety. The listening process from start to finish with Life on TV will take you less than a half hour. To do it twice, just over 40 minutes. Along the way, you’ll discover your own favorite songs without the influence or bias of others. After a few listens on my own, the songs that are highlighted in green font above are my favorite songs on this album.
The word on the street, from across the pond, is that Club Paradise puts on energetic, and memorable live shows! Are you seeing them live, listen to more of their discography or follow their socials? I’d recommend that you start with the band’s Linktree which includes their latest music and their socials to keep you up to date. I’d recommend starting with their Instagram.
Thank you for reading and supporting good music.
Until next time,
Alex
Scummy Water Tower Productions co-founder, reviewer, business manager, and editor. Thank you for visiting this site, scummywatertower.com, and YouTube for Water Tower Sessions and SWT Interviews. And all of our socials.
Questions, feedback, or more? Contact me: alex@scummywatertower.com
