Connecticut-based modern-rock band A Will Away released the EP their fans have been waiting for on November 20. The EP, titled Soup, features six songs, all of which were recorded during special sessions fans had the opportunity to attend back in March.
The EP opens with the track “Settling.” It is an upbeat song with heavy lyrics. Matthew Carlson (guitar and vocals) sings You’ve spent your days living on a turnstyle/ Hold them back with an out-of-body smile/ Nothing seems normal/ Trying to enjoy the ride in the second verse. It’s a song that doesn’t need to try hard for a listener to like it.
Next comes Soft Shell. This track opens with a hard guitar riff and discusses the subject of sensitivity. In this track, the listener hears Carlson sing “Be careful what you say to me/ The slightest shit might make me bleed.” This track is similar to one you would hear on a classic rock radio station, and in every regard, that’s a compliment.
The third track is called “Sea Hag Blues.” It chronicles a night of drinking and the speaker, in this case Carlson, is trying to piece the night together. He touches on many aspects from beginning the song with, “Double vision put me on a bathroom floor”, to ending the song with, “Has anybody seen my car lately?” It’s an unconventional but catchy song. “Evaporate” is up next. The song starts with upbeat drums and a powerful bassline. The song then goes on to discuss a failed relationship and how two people should’ve split up, instead of staying together out of convenience.
The fifth track is called “TOIFMG.” While what the letters stand for is up for debate, everyone can agree that this is the most mellow song on the album. The song then chronicles the questioning of the decisions that were made and has Carlson telling the listener that they’ll have to just walk it off.
The final track is called “Long Exposure.” This song feels right being the closing track. Everything that’s come before has prepared you for this song here. This track talks about a lot. From running into old friends in verse one to have a run-in with the cops in the second verse, many layers were compiled into a song that’s just over three minutes long. But that is not to say it’s jumbled or unrefined.
Everything in this track blends together perfectly. The song and the EP close with harmonies of the chorus of this song and lines from the previous songs over the conclusion of this specific song.
The EP clocks in at 16 minutes long. So if you’re looking for a place to start listening to A Will Away, there’s no better place to start than with this EP.