I’m just going to start by saying I’m not use to reviewing EP’s. In my opinion full length albums are much easier; they give you more to go by. Boxer & Clovers What Happens Here EP only has five songs on it; but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth picking up. In fact, it is one of my favorite releases of the year.

            The EP opens with the track “Adding to 100 Years of Silence.” This is the kind of song that The Academy Is… had on their first CD. Full of catchy hooks and a creative blend of instruments, this song also shows me what I think is so important about this band. The line “Bring it back to a better time when the world was young and we all felt so alive” captured me and instantly made me a fan.

            “The Good Life” shows a totally different style to the bands music. This song, in my opinion, is what would happen if Four Letter Lie and Circa Survive decided to collaborate. At times this song becomes something you might hear from Angels and Airwaves.

            Overall this doesn’t even scratch the surface of the EP. The creative effects they use in some songs are great. The Group vocals on “The Sound of Your Lullaby” are totally unexpected showing another side to the band. I’m not the best reviewer in the world, but I don’t need to be to say this is a great disc.

 *   *   *   * ½  

Key Tracks      

“Adding to 100 Years of Silence”,                             

 “The Good Life”, “Blue”