For his third release, Stop Dead (side project of This Century’s Ryan Gose) steps out from behind the drum kit and grabs the microphone once again. Diverging from the pop/punk of This Century and tackling a more indie-rock sound, Gose’s work with Stop Dead illustrates his diverse skill set.
The short EP – which is four songs, totaling just over thirteen minutes, is enjoyable throughout its entire stay, as short as it is. Taking the Ace Enders via I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody’s Business’ Gold Rush route and recording vocals and instrumentals on his own, Gose delivers a performance that impresses on its own, but really makes an impression due to the individual effort.
“Light My Fire” and opener “We Own the Night” are textbook new-age/indie, with crisp guitars, shaking tambourines and cymbals, and a bit of extra rasp added to the vocals to make sure it sticks.
On the infectious “Supernova,” Gose channels Gin Wigmore-esque hooks to produce a real standout, while the title track not only closes the EP, but acts as its shining moment.
Gose gets creative on Dirt & Dust, taking a step away from his pop roots and finding himself and his music in grittier territories. Luckily, he handles the transition cleanly and serves up a handful of songs that show that he’s proficient in much more than just the rhythm section.
Rating: 3.5/5
Runtime: 13:21
Release Date: March 10th, 2014
Tracklist:
1. “We Own The Night”
2. “Supernova”
3. “Light My Fire”
4. “Dirt & Dust”
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Written by Eric Riley