Telltale released Lie Your Way Out, their newest EP, on March 25, comprised of five songs that compliment each other perfectly, and construct an ambiance that brings back what pop punk is all about, giving us the sounds people will be seeking to play all summer.
The EP kicks off with “Slowburn”, which is essentially three minutes of adrenaline in the form of a song–– there’s addictive properties in this lineup from the opening seconds of the first song. The drums really carry the power packed behind this piece. Even though we got this one back in September, the lyricism still leaves me speechless: “You can pump us full of your hormones / Trading little hearts in for headstones.”
“Pessimist”, the second song in the lineup, is one of the only that hasn’t been released as an independent single earlier. has such nuanced word flow and wordplay, and that paired with vocals that leave you with chills. The ambiance is just so smooth, and the way that lead singer John Carteret hits the note on “serotonin” teases us with vocals that bring to life a set of lyrics that have the ability to resonate universally. The passion behind the lines “Broken / Be my serotonin / Going through the motions / Having a hard time coping” is so avidly raw and authentic that it shakes you to your bones a little.
I’m not going to lie, “Out Of Control!” left me on the fence through the first verse, but when the beat drops 42 seconds in, it’s impossible not to be reeled in. The energy is high with this one, making it kind of perfect for flying down the interstate or skating downhill. The words kind of blur together through the chorus, but that vibe that we constantly find ourselves obsessed with really works with the theme and title of this single.
“COBAIN” provides the melodramatic break that every good punk EP needs in the middle of it. Again, the lyricism here is impressively creative and yet feels so familiar that the resonance of the allusions to Kurt radiate with an even larger radius. Even though this single was released before the rest of the EP, its inclusion in this collection and placement at the center of the tracklist ties the entire collection together. The bridge in this piece seamlessly transitions into the final rendition of the incredibly powerful chorus.
“Lie Your Way Out”, the EP’s namesake, slaps you in the face with lyrics that hit heavily from the start. The way that the band manages to cover the subject of the hold that drug abuse holds over your behavior with refinement, somehow poetically in the face of upbeat sound, is impressive.
The fact that the entire five song tracklist is less than fifteen minutes is almost disappointing, as after listening once through, you will be craving more from Telltale.
Carteret is not afraid to exercise the range of his vocals, and in doing so, he blows us out of the waters once more.
Stream Lie Your Way Out on all major music platforms now.
Stream the EP on Spotify:
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