Rock & Roll/ Lo-fi
RIYL: Ramones, Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones
There is a distinct lo-fi vibe that we get when listening to Easy Habits. This is not a bad thing, as you get the impression that the band is more preoccupied with capturing the energy of their music than with producing music that has had its authenticity removed through too much applied polish. Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, their latest release is called “Greetings From…” with a cheeky wink and a nod to Springsteen’s own 1973 magnum opus Greetings from Asbury Park. Continuing the lo-fi attitude and approach is the fact that you can buy their complete collection of songs on one cassette! So, dig up that Walkman, spool the tape, press play, and the let the hiss kick in before the music hits you.
Easy Habits is a three-piece rock band with a likeable swagger and persuasive urgency to their music. There’s lots to like here. Take, for example, the Stones-like chops of “Go Getter” with guitarist Brendan delivering the guitar riffs with utter confidence and then ending the song with an ascending chord sequence that seems a perfect way to end it. Then there is “WDIA” which recalls the chaos and earnestness of the Ramones at their finest. A couple of blistering guitar solos throughout the song show the genuine talent of the band, before the song moves into a Hendrix-style swirl of battering drums and howling guitar.
On their Facebook page is a recent post, which is as much a declaration of their inspirations as well as their intent to provide an authentic rock experience: “Are you sick of watching crappy YouTube videos of that Jimi Hendrix show your mom wouldn’t drive you to back in 1967? Have no fear! We’re gonna try to get it as close as we can to the real thing.” Overall, it’s easy to like Easy Habits and to recognize that “Greetings From…” has elevated their music to the next level. We look forward to hearing more!
