KNAPSACKHEROES!

This short three-song piece of ear candy came as quite a bit of a surprise. The album cover promises something wacky and definitely off the wall. If this band came off sounding like Coldplay after presenting such odd artwork, I was going to throw it against the wall. Lucky for us, this self-described “everything but the kitchen sink” band features slices of experimental electronica, pop, rock and hip-hop, all guided by producers Tedd T and Lynn Nichols (MuteMath, Mat Kearney). And somehow, they form cohesive and intriguing hints of what’s to come for this band.

The EP kicks off with “You Don’t Know Sarah,” a love song to a girl. It’s a fresh take on beauty, because rather than focus on what she looks like, the song is completely absorbed in her words and her inner beauty.

Next up is “My Tubesocks,” a slightly more laid back song that starts out with a Rufus Wainwright-esque vocal section. It morphs into a piano-and-drum-driven investigation of the road that stretches ahead of all of us in our lives as we pursue our dreams and callings. Leave it up to KNAPSACKHEROES! to take an out-of-style fashion statement and turn it into a truly thought provoking song.

And finally, there’s “Espirit De Floor.” After the first two cuts of the EP, it ratchets up the pounding drums and electronica. This is the song that’s destined for dance clubs across the country. But after the lyrical depth of the previous two songs, this one leaves a bit to be desired. (”All you boys on the left/All you girls on the left/Make a move to the middle/Gonna dance all night.”) But that doesn’t mean it’s not fun.

With a fourteen-minute run time, this self-titled EP barely gets started before it’s already over. But they make an impression, and leave you wanting more. Whether or not they live up to the gauntlet they’ve thrown down here? Only time will tell.

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