Chapel 'Sunday Brunch' EP review
By Mary Perez
Chapel, an indie-pop band from Athens, is signed to Rise Records under the management of Issues frontman Tyler Carter. The band consists of vocalist/guitarist Carter Hardin and drummer Kortney Grinwis. They are currently touring with Waterparks, Sleep On It, and As It Is, and they put out their first EP, “Sunday Brunch,” on November 17, 2017.
“Sunday Brunch” features several tracks which were previously out as singles, such as “We’ve Got Soul” and “Fool’s Gold.” Of the newer tracks, the band plays around with different sounds not seen on the singles. The majority of the tracks are energetic, often masking the sadder themes behind the songs, such as heartbreak.
Starting off with the first track, “Cindy White,” this song has a danceable vibe to it that transitions you right into the next track “Caught Up.” “Caught Up” reminisces on the freedom of being a child in comparison to all of the problems of adulthood. Its bridge consists of a short drum solo and a whistling melody that can easily get stuck in your head. The next song is a Chapel classic, “We’ve Got Soul.” Featuring distinct phrases such as “I’m a bougie ass bitch deep in my bones,” the track speaks about the lifestyle of a musician and the difficulties faced in order to follow their aspirations. “Miss Monogamy,” the next song off the album, has more catchy phrases and beats that play over and over in your head, such as “He’s a crying little bitch that don’t get it up / She’s a Tennessee ten, she don’t get enough.” The band enjoys playing around with diverse sounds, which is shown in the electronic beats of “Miss Monogamy” and “Don’t You Love Me.” The 5th song on “Sunday Brunch,” “Don’t You Love Me” has Hardin singing about the feelings of falling in love with someone. “See You Again,” the 6th track off the EP, is the outlier of the group and stands out to listeners in the midst of livelier songs. The last song off “Sunday Brunch” is fan favorite “Fool’s Gold.” “Fool’s Gold” is the perfect concluding song to the album, as it features heavier drums from Grinwis and the nostalgic tones of past memories in Hardin’s voice.
Overall, “Sunday Brunch” provides a fair mix of sounds from Chapel and is a solid choice of album to listen to on various occasions. Regardless of your musical preferences, this album has a good collection of beats and ideas for anyone to enjoy.
