VersaEmerge

VersaEmerge

(Fueled By Ramen)

Record Review by Kevan Peterson

VersaEmerge's six-track, self-titled EP starts with a promising but misleading tune, “Theatrics,” which sounds more classical than punk, and seems to forebode something dramatic is about to unfold.  What does unfold, however, is more cookie cutter than cutting edge.  The band plays punky ballads that hint at Top 40 ideals but end up not being able to break the barrier between a skillful execution and a soulful one.

This EP marks their first release with the Fueled By Ramen label under which they recently signed (home to Paramore and Panic! at the Disco, among others).  The band is highly competent in their arrangements and musicianship but end up sounding a bit cold in their delivery.  “The Hider” packs a punch musically while lead singer Sierra Kusterbeck shows she’s fallen into a comfortable level of leadership since the departure of VersaEmerge’s original lead singer Spencer Pearson a few years back.

The band is at their strongest when playing with strings and keys, but ultimately downplay the aspects that make them stand out from their counterparts, burying certain elements into the background and playing up the commercial rock portions of each tune, which has a drowning effect on the overall delivery of the album, making them seem less talented then they actually may be.

“Past Praying For” fully embraces the guitar-fueled sound and, as such, becomes the band's most radio friendly tune.  “Moments Between Sleep” incorporates more musical interplay than its predecessor, but still is overly dominated by the guitar and simple chord progressions of a typical rock band.  “Whisper” is the most musically exciting track, with the exception of the album's short opening.  Ultimately, there is nothing wrong with sounding like your peers and being radio friendly, especially when your musicianship is as strong as theirs, but it feels like VersaEmerge has some untapped potential.  They are still presumably early in their career and so have time to develop into something more exciting and fresh, or vice versa.