Muncie Girls / Great Cynics – Split

I’ve never been a big fan of split EPs.  A handful of different scenarios usually present themselves but even the best ones usually end in some degree of disappointment; either one overshadows the other, both completely suck, the styles clash, or all the songs rock, leaving me hungry for a meaty main course that doesn’t arrive until either band finally gets around to releasing their next full length.  UK pop-punks Muncie Girls and Great Cynics recently released one such split showcasing three on the mark tracks by each party, making for the best kind of disappointing.

Great Cynics take the lead with their raspy brand of clean vocals and poppy guitar hooks.  The band clearly went out of their way to harness their full catchiness for opener “Whatever You Want.”  The simplicity of the chords bound into a jubilant chorus in which the whole band chimes in with spirited fervor.  Bassist Iona Cairns takes the reins for “Scarier Area,” her sweet but strong vocals pulling her out from behind her bass guitar, leading the charge in this slightly above mid-tempo standout.  Cairns usually leads for a song or two per album, but the strength of her performance should leave fans hoping Great Cynics up that ratio soon.  “Dirt In My Lungs” is a relatively relaxed closing number that wraps up the band’s contributions somewhere between a fizzle and a bang.  Overall a commendable three songs that set the scene for Muncie Girls’ vibrant poppy continuation.

Landing somewhere between early Lemuria and Candy Hearts, Muncie Girls kick off their side with sugary cup of bubbly delight.  If Great Cynics were straight up root beer then Muncie Girls are a sweet sweet root beer float.  “Everyday” won’t just hook listeners for one auditory gulp; it’s the creamy textures that will keep an audience tasting each chorus upon subsequent sips.  The soft mid-song plucking pacing “The Teacher” paired with a verse punctuated with playful “oo-ooos” furthers the theme of easy, addictive listening, leading into the band’s most ambitious of its contributions.  “The Real You” counterbalances the prior tracks’ juvenility with an earnest dose of musical and lyrical maturity.  “The world against you is all in your head,” sings Lande Hekt, emphasizing inner strength through the passage: “the real you would get out of bed, and forget about the things that were never said.”  Muncie Girls not only close out their side confidently, but also bring a sense of a closure to the split as a whole. 

As far as two artists putting their best collective foot forward, Great Cynics and Muncie Girls offer six well-polished and memorable tunes.  As with all splits, the disc serves more as a sampler or promotional tool for each band, but a dang good one at that.  If the tracks on either side of this split are any indication, any upcoming output by Great Cynics or Muncie Girls will be well worth tuning into.