Smiler - FUNCTIONING EP

Smiler

FUNCTIONING EP
self-released; 2017

​3.5 out of 5

By Jamie Funk

Lunny  (guitar/vocals), The Newge (bass/vocals) and Mori (drums) are Smiler. The three-piece band recently released FUNCTIONING EP which contains three songs. They play no frills garage rock that has been around since the ’70s - no more no less.

The songs are basic revolving around distorted power chords, organic drums and a chugging bass. As far as the recording quality goes it definitely veers towards a demo from the drum sound to the stereo separation.

The band gets going with “Make Up” which is garage rock 101. A familiar rock chord progression is strummed and you are treated to vocals that are gritty and fit the style of rock. The verse was solid but the band never delivers a chorus. For whatever reason they decided to swap out a chorus with a lead guitar solo which happens three times. One mini guitar solo at the end would have worked but I have to admit I wanted a hook or at least more significant change in the song.

I thought the band redeemed themselves with the hook on “Do It Again.” The song is about a minute shorter than the opener but they fit in a lot more. They get to a catchy  and dirty hook by the twenty-five-second mark. Around the two-minute mark they speed things up for a short but effective outro. Solid song.

They close with “Stomper” which was another solid song. It’s a fun punk song with jagged chord progression and tons of attitude.

​Smiler is in no way introducing anything new with this EP. That being said it is a fun and short EP for fans of this genre. Truth be told this type of music is really meant to be experienced in a smokey dive bar with twenty people max while drunk .

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