REVIEW of Barkhouse’s “Wolves At The Wall” Out Nov. 18

I had the chance to take an early listen to Barkhouse‘s “Wolves At The Wall” EP out November 18, 2014. Recorded at actor/director Adrian Grenier’s (Entourage) WreckRoom Records, it’s definitely worth a listen!

1. Wolves At The Wall – The title begins as an energetic, mind-refreshing jam track. Layering on the vocals, the track has a slow build, in perfect balance of tone and grit. Soulful, honest vocals break into harmony mid-song; the chorus is irresistible and moving… as a whole the song is oddly refreshing yet comfortable – as if its been an old favorite in my playlist all along?

2. Twice A Day – Slower, acoustic and pure, this song suddenly bursts into a catchy pop grove. It’s a love ballad through and through; a solid song though not sticking to my mind after listening to the entire EP.

3. Oh No! Bursting with energy, this almost sounds like the Strokes got stuck on fast-forward along with a healthy blend of punk rock influence, with pounding, driving bass and drums. An angsty song of frustration release, this song is short, sweet and catchy!

4. Getting Away – This song really lets the bass skills shine. As a whole, I love how this band balances all parts, showcasing the range and talent of all members alike. Vocally, they make excellent use of harmonies. Again with love-song elements, this song holds together as a whole better than Twice A Day, which a catchy chorus and moving energy – rich and mature in sound.

5. Stay (Feat. Mikky Ekko) – Covering Rihanna’s “Stay” this band seeks to not only master the song, but make it their own. With the range, ability and talent they do a pretty impressive job, while tweaking it enough to make it their own. They created a video for it while at Wreckroom Records, here:

The band is also playing at CMJ at Big Picture Media’s showcase tomorrow night (Oct 22) at the Living room – see their Facebook for details!