Bandless - Necessary EP

Bandless

Necessary EP
self-released; 2017

​3.5 out of 5

By Jamie Funk

Bandless is the solo project for Luke Smith. He is a bedroom artist like many others  implementing some of the tools that modern technology has provided. Smith plays fairly heavy rock on his demo EP Necessary. It’s reminiscent of a band like Queens of the Stone Age. 

​Going at it alone has some advantages but also plenty of disadvantages. The biggest disadvantage with this EP is the programmed drums when this style demands an actual drummer. Hopefully Bandless can find at least one band member in future and that being a drummer. That said the guitar and vocals sound great. I’d say it’s a little shy of professional quality but I thought it was above average for DIY.

I can’t say Smith is delivering sounds or a style that is particularly innovative but I thought the songwriting and delivery was solid. He has a good set of pipes and with a little better production would sound exceptional.

He opens with “I Live it But…” which comes out of the gates rocking out hard. The vibe is somewhere between The White Stripes and Queens of the Stone Age. He thrashes a couple of power chords while singing a quite infectious vocal melody. He kills it on the title track. It’s pretty straight heavy blues rock but no doubt has a good amount of energy. “In My Dreams” finds more energy and had a distinct lead guitar.

“Green Moon Pt1” felt like an ambient transition for the more rocking and in your face second part. As much as I liked the two parter the centerpiece is the seven-plus-minute song entitled “Ignorance of Bliss.” The song is a lot more atmospheric, dreamlike and dynamic than anything that came before. It felt like a good choice for a closer that examined some of the other types of styles he can pull off. 

Smith is off to a solid start with this EP. I can’t help but wonder what these songs would sound like with more people but he does get the job done.

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