“Someday” is a track that is intense, emotional, and hard-edged all at the same time. Updating the sound of acts like Yellowcard and The Starting Line, Life After Liftoff craft a mature sound with “Someday”. The track can be enjoyed on a number of levels; while the overall emotive rock style will immediately gain a number of fans for the band, the interplay present between the different elements of the band will a while to unravel. Those that give Life After Liftoff a serious listen will be rewarded handsomely; the arrangements present on the “Memory of You” are simply dynamite. “The Promise” showcases a decidedly different side of Life After Liftoff; where there are bold guitar lines and drum fills to be had in “Someday”, the band opts for a more nuanced sound during “The Promise”. This softer approach allows for more poignant points to be made; the band speaks to anyone that has personally experienced loss in any of life’s aspects. The end of “The Promise” showcases a more positive outcome, something that is also present in “Memory of You”. “Memory of You” has Life After Liftoff coping with life’s challenges but comes forth with a blend of the styles originally present in both “Someday” and “The Promise”. Uniting the different sounds broached during the “Memory of You” EP, Life After Liftoff makes a cohesive and full-sounding effort all in the space of about 10 minutes.
Make it a point to pick up the “Memory of You” EP, warp it, and come back in a few months when Life After Liftoff have released their “Everything Is You” LP. With the germination of the ideas, sounds, and approaches taken during this EP, I have little doubt in my mind that their forthcoming LP will be one of 2011’s best albums. If they happen to be hitting up your stomping grounds, figure out a way to see them live – while there are only brief nods to it, I feel that the raw sound that the band is capable of would only be more brilliant in a live setting.
Top Tracks: Memory of You, Someday
Rating: 8.7/10
Life After Liftoff – Memory of You (CD) / 2011 Self / 3 Tracks / http://www.facebook.com/LifeAfterLiftoff
John Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital publishing experience, he has written thousands of hands-on game and record reviews, conducted in-depth hardware field testing, and analyzed digital media monetization trends. His work prioritizes first-hand evaluation and long-term product testing.
Beats: Independent Music, PC Gaming & Peripherals, Consumer Tech, Webmaster Tools
Testing & Ethics: All hardware, software, and media reviews are conducted through hands-on evaluation in accordance with NeuFutur’s editorial independence standards; sponsored consideration is strictly excluded from editorial ratings.
Contact: editor@neufutur.com