EP Review: Cold Weather Kids – Quarantunes

Los Angeles based trio Cold Weather Kids have today, January 1st 2021, released the “Quarantunes” EP that follows up on their summer debut, “Songs We Can’t Finish“. We are all familiar with the quarantine releases that have come thick and fast this year with nobody touring and, along with everyone else, finding they had a lot of time on their hands, there are no prizes for guessing that “Quarantunes” is among the releases that have been generated by the pandemic. The “Quarantunes” EP tries to stay upbeat, something that is no mean feat in a year that is taken it’s toll on pretty much everyone one way or another. Whilst their debut five track EP was a burst of pop punk energy that reflects the early days of lockdown, the “Quarantunes” EP is one that has a more reflective, and at times unhinged, feel to it.

The opening track on the “Quarantunes” EP ‘Keep Me Warm‘ is not what you would expect from a release that has pop punk written all over the press release, an overly dramatic take on the genre, one that has a kind of Muse meets New Found Glory quality that sits on the fence between alternative rock and goofy pop punk. We’re heading back towards more familiar territory on the second track ‘You’re My Player 2‘, and as the “Quarantunes” EP finishes with ‘Meant For You‘, an almost traditional pop punk acoustic closer, we’re safely back in the turn of the millennium pop punk stable. There’s nothing wrong with pop punk, it’s just that this is a genre that frequently treads a well worn path and there’s a vague feeling of disappointment given the originality on display on the EP’s demented opening track.

Cold Weather Kids have the sound of a band in transition, the originality on display in contrasted with a vintage pop punk sound that we are all too familiar with, and you get the impression that the time spent in quarantine has given them time to explore new ideas, something that I hope they continue to do as there is the potential for an original take on pop punk to emerge. I’ll be keeping tabs on the Cold Weather Kids in 2021 to see what’s next from them, this is a band that has the potential to bring something new to a genre that is in danger of be coming increasingly formulaic.

“Quarantunes” is now available via all major digital service providers