Blank Books' sound is more accessible than Poor Old Lu's fusion of grunge, classic rock and funk, but that doesn't mean their music's not engaging. The opener, "Breathing Underwater," is an effective introduction to their brand of indie rock, as well as Aaron's unmistakable voice. Even though this song isn't the most unique or eventful of the six, it boasts one of his best vocal performances as he slides smoothly from chest-voice to falsetto. The next track, "Find my Way Again," combines sunny acoustic strumming with angst-filled electric guitar, Jesse's turbulent drumming and Aaron's plea, "Please, find my way again." The tonal shift from the upbeat verses to the melancholy chorus works really well and demonstrates Aaron's versatility as a songwriter.

Building on the sorrow of "Find my Way Again," "Thornhill" is the kind of dark song that doesn't call attention to itself, relying instead on wispy vocals that are almost overpowered by the instruments. This quiet sadness calls Copeland's understated style to mind, especially with the lyric, "You could run again, but maybe you'll just give up instead." "Hungry Ghost" continues this trend as growling distortion and furious tom-work vie with more gloomy vocals that paradoxically state, "Too much is not enough." Although this song isn't as memorable as "Find my Way Again" or "Thornhill," it does a good job sustaining the tone the other songs created. "Bad Time" picks up the pace with a grunge-inspired arrangement of snarling power-chords and a straightforward, driving drum part. Jesse pounds it out on "Lean in," EP1's final track, with his foot steadily churning out eighth-notes beneath punishing snare hits and cymbal crashes. As great as all that raw emotion is, this song truly shines in the dreamy verses and the soaring bridge. All these parts come together for a great ending, and the masterful way the pieces fit together, from the virtuosic drumming to the soulful guitar solos, is the real strength of this EP.

Long story short: fans of the Sprinkle brothers should definitely pick this one up.

- Review date: 11/28/17, written by Andie Hardee of Jesusfreakhideout.com

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Record Label: None
Album length: 6 tracks: 22 minutes, 29 seconds
Street Date: November 22, 2017
Buy It: Bandcamp

1. Breathing Underwater (4:13)
2. Find My Way Again (4:15)
3. Thornhill (4:06)
4. Hungry Ghost (2:55)
5. Bad Time (2:56)
6. Lean In (4:02)