New Years Day: New Years Day

Getting the attention of Fall Out Boy’s label and Motion City Soundtrack never hurts in getting your name out. But fortunately the buzz about New Year’s Day is quite right. This EP shows that the band is only as strong as the pipes of singer Ashley Hittesdorf that gives the whiny, emo-saturated motif a new breath of fresh air. “I Was Right” has more in common with bands like No Doubt, Garbage and Angels & Airwaves than Mr. Boy and Mr. Soundtrack. Helped out by some great guitar work from Keith Drover, the song shifts gears without stalling at any moment. More pop rock oozes out of the finely-crafted “So Long” that would get most angst-riddled teens pumping their fists. The band keeps the momentum going with perhaps the highlight, the rowdy but oh so polished “Razor” that has some edge to it. Another keeper is the punchy, bouncy and radio-friendly “Who We Are” featuring some horns courtesy of Reel Big Fish. Short and sweet, the five-song effort ends with “Away”. Hopefully they won’t be away for too long.