Normal Average People: Review

Lovers of alt-J, the Black Keys, and the 80s punk scene rejoice! There’s a new duo on the scene: Normal Average People. 

I like their music so much I’d almost encourage you to skip this review and go listen to their new EP right now but hey since I have you here, may as well talk about them.

Normal Average People, newly signed to Blitzcat Records, released their debut EP ‘The Moon Saloon’ last week and having only recently discovered their music, this was a great surprise for me. 

I have a feeling these guys are going to go down well with all you lovely readers...

The EP opens with a remastered version of a prior release ‘Baggy Ankles’, which I think is a perfect way to show exactly who they are. The first word I used to describe this band was authentic; intelligent lyrics, an English punk/alternative set up and vocals that ooze irreverence are hallmarks for this band. Next up is the song ‘Lemo/Memo’ and I don’t know how to describe it exactly but it sounds like them. I guess what I mean by that is, it doesn’t sound mass-produced, it sounds very much like two talented guys sat together creating this in their living room, but like the punkier- warehouse edition of that. This song has a catchy rhythm and a great blend of almost upbeat riffs and moments of all-encompassing noise.

Now their next song is a personal favorite of mine – ‘Kolla Ogon’ has a much more laidback attitude to it and really reminds me of more relaxed ‘Left-hand Free’ by alt-J. I don’t know how to talk about this song without sounding fan-girly really, it’s just a really cool piece of music. I hesitate to use the word ‘cool’ because it’s kind of lost impact, but it really is a cool song. And last but certainly not least comes ‘Office Barnet’; now for someone who doesn’t generally gravitate towards punk, I really like this one. It’s entertaining, they use a cowbell in there somewhere which as far as I’m concerned is genius, it builds well and it ends with a long fade out which is a great way to end the EP.

All in all, I’m a fan. Let’s all go check them out now so that we can rub in the fact that we listened to Normal Average People before they got big.

- Chloe Boehm

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