Schmeeze - SchmeezEP

​Schmeeze

SchmeezEP
self-released; 2016

3.3 out of 5

​By Jamie Funk

Schmeeze is a band comprised of Michelle Eliza (vocals), Mike Miller (guitar), Ian Ferry (bass) and Tom Gordon (drums). The band recently released SchmeezEP. They play music that in all honestly is best heard live when you want to have good time. The EP is diverse and scattered with different styles.

Take for instance the opener “Come Home With Me” which is funky jam session. It is not the most emotionally powerful song I’ve heard and is a type of song that you would say “that’s a tight bass line.” The most emotionally engaging part are the vocals. Eliza has a powerful voice but I thought her vocals were a little too much in the background. “Come Home With Me” has a good groove but the jam also felt like one I’ve heard in many of the bars I’ve been to.

Next up is “Howl at the Moon” which is a straightforward rock song. There is a tinge of ’80s metal on the song. The guitar is distorted taking the reins with the bass and drums following the progression. Like “Come Home With Me,” “Howl at the Moon” felt a little too reminiscent of a myriad of other songs I’ve heard before.

The production takes a dip on “On The HiFi” which is almost straightforward reggae vibe. Not a bad song but it feeds to standard tropes of the genre. The highlight is arguably “Someday Baby - Acoustic.” The vocals sound good here and are the focal point. She has a great voice and this is where her vocals should lay in the mix. She has a soulful voice and I think they need to play that up. This style out of all the ones they attempt is the most successful.

If SchmeezEP is indicative of the band’s sound they have a lot to think about. Each song has a distinct style and seems as if the band really isn’t sure of what type of music they want to play. This could work if you are a cover band but confuses people if you are attempting original material.

​I would say they all have technical talent and they have a great singer. What they need to do at this point is start digging deeper and create a signature sound which will identify their band.

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