Give three cheers and crack two beers everyone, it’s time for the brand new EP from Ottawa indie rockers, Dart Trees: “Consider Two Beers”.
Dart Trees have made a name for themselves throughout the Ottawa music scene with their infectious brand of raucous indie tunes. Every song has undeniable heart that spills out through their clever lyrics, distinctive production style and unforgettable track titles. With “Consider Two Beers”, Dart Trees have taken all of the ingredients that go into their expected sound and turned things up to 11.
Sporting a dreamy, lo-fi production style courtesy of Hannah Judge from fanclubwallet, each song on this EP stands confidently on its own, while also flowing perfectly from track to track. “Consider Two Beers” explores themes of self-reflection, anxiety, and attempts to get your shit together. These themes, coupled with the sometimes dreamy, always catchy, jangling guitar riffs, make for a thoroughly enjoyable listen time and time again.
The EP begins with “headass”, a song that, as the name suggests, is about getting your head out of your ass and growing out of the habits you had at 17. The lyrics loop back around to the line “get your head out of your ass” throughout the song, which lends itself to the idea of staying stuck in your ways and being told to get it together. The song is clever and catchy and starts off the project in a wonderfully self-aware way.
Up next is the fantastically titled “Bong & McQuade”. The song begins with a simple back-and-forth guitar riff before blossoming into a gorgeous wave of shoegaze-esque leads. The vocals elevate this song above what might be expected from your average dreamy indie rock song by swapping from a straightforward clean delivery to a swirling, filter-drenched passage that becomes as much a part of the instrumentation as the actual instruments are. With lyrics about losing convictions and playing ‘Mario Soccer for a week straight’, this song is sure to dominate playlists across the city in no time.
Also featured on this EP is the previously released “jim watson you’ve had it too good for too long”
This track is anthemic indie rock haymaker, with a chorus that will plant its roots in your mind after just one listen. This song will undoubtedly become a strong part of the band’s live set.
Next up is “mad mike hughes”. This track falls somewhere between shoegaze and post-punk and while it may be hard to pin down in terms of genre, it’s easily summed up as simply sounding like “Dart Trees”.
The band has performed this song live in the past to overwhelming approval from those who got the chance to hear it. The repetition of the title within the chorus reveals a simplistic beauty that urges the listener to join in and sing as loud as they can, “MAD MIKE HUGHES, MISSING ALL OF MY QUEUES”. The production from Hannah Judge cannot be understated as a standout in this entire project. She helps such a soft and gentle album hit with the same energy as a brazen hard rock project.
To finish the EP we have the previously released “Lazarus Of Cryville”, a slower and more introspective moment on this EP. Throughout the duration of the song, you can find melancholy guitars, twinkly xylophone accents, and a vocal performance that conjures a sense of thoughtful nostalgia. While this song is sure to become a heavy hitter in venues across the city, it can also be enjoyed on your 7 a.m. train ride to work or school and hit with equal emotional intensity.
All of these songs are presented in a neat, thoughtful and organized way that will surely resonate with more people than the band could have ever imagined. After all, what could go better with a Dart Tree than two beers? just something to consider.