Colony House has long been a band that thrives on heart-on-sleeve lyricism, infectious energy, and a knack for crafting intimate and stadium-ready anthems. From the raw exuberance of When I Was Younger to the polished sheen of Cannonballers, they've consistently delivered albums that resonate with a certain spark -- what I've come to call their "special sauce." So, it pains me to say that 77 Pt. 1, the first half of their anticipated 77 project, feels like a misfire. While flashes of brilliance shine through, the EP ultimately stumbles, leaving me hopeful but underwhelmed, eager for 77 Pt. 2 to redeem this uneven effort.

Let's start with the good. Opener "Telephone Pole" is a stunner, hands-down the standout of the seven-track set. It's vintage Colony House: a soaring, emotionally charged anthem that marries introspective lyrics with a driving rhythm and "oh ohs" that begs to be shouted live in a sweaty venue. It's the kind of song that reminds you why you fell in love with this band in the first place. The lyric, "Why am I afraid of an ending / I already know?" works on several levels, but gives perhaps the biggest clue of the current headspace that the band is in. There's clearly a relational struggle happening, but whether it's largely horizontal, vertical, or both remains to be seen.

"Atomic" crackles with urgency, its nervous energy and descending vocal delivery hitting hard. It may seem minor to some, but it's worth mentioning that the use of a profanity, though contextual, feels like an unnecessary edge that doesn't fit their usual earnestness. (The line refers to a movie being "about an a--h*le.") "Highwire," and the title track "77," also deliver, the former with its taut mid-tempo groove, and the latter with a reflective, almost wistful vibe that hints at the thematic depth the band is capable of. The closer takes an approach similar to Switchfoot's own "24;" on it, lead singer Caleb Chapman intones, "I'd rather bite through my tongue / 'Cause I don't wanna add to the damage that's already done / Yeah, I'm always afraid of saying something insincere / But if I don't speak at all, would you think that I don't care?" That's the kind of overanalyzing I can personally and empathetically identify with.

But when we hit the middle of the tracklist, things start to unravel. Tracks like "Ready to Go" stick out as a sore thumb seemingly better used as their side project Two Car Garage. "What's It Gonna Take" feels like a tired retread of past glories, lacking the spark that made songs like "You & I" or "Lonely" so magnetic. "What's It Gonna Take" is a try at a political protest song, but lacks the bite musically required to drive the point home more emphatically. These cuts aren't bad per se, but they're either head-scratchingly juvenile or frustratingly safe. Add to that a recycling of familiar chord progressions and lyrical tropes without adding anything new to the conversation and you have a recipe for two song skips back-to-back. "OK OK OK OK" gets a partial pass for its playful, almost frenetic energy -- likely a banger in a live setting -- but even that feels like a one-trick pony that doesn't hold up on repeat listens. The verses are fine, but the repetitive chorus wears thin quickly.

At just seven tracks, 77 Pt. 1 is lean, but due to a weaker middle, it still manages to feel uneven. The highs are high, no question, but the lows drag it down into a classic mixed bag territory. What's missing is that Colony House magic dust -- the alchemy of raw emotion, bold experimentation, and unforgettable hooks. This feels like a band playing it safe, perhaps saving their best ideas for Pt. 2. I'm holding out hope that the second half of this project will bring the fire, but for now, 77 Pt. 1 is largely a disappointing detour for a band capable of so much more.