After we reviewed Oh! My Blackbird’s full length album, Dare Me, earlier this year, I was extremely excited to see that the NYC-based chamber-pop band had a new EP out.

Songwriter Annie Sullivan returns with 3 new gorgeous songs for Violet, supplemented with interesting and detailed arrangements like those found on Dare Me. Opening track, “It’s Not That I Still Love You (Cause I Don’t)” is as playful and cute as its name suggests, calling upon classic 60s pop chord progressions and the same delightfully bratty lyrics seen on their full-length. The three band members layer their voices together in thick harmony throughout and folksy guitar strumming leading the way.

“Orlando” finds the group in their most straightforward presentation. The song is simple and bouncy, and the arrangement, with sweet harmonies, jangly guitars, and a light cello, fits perfectly. But the title track, “Violet”, is perhaps the most sonically interesting track on the EP. Built around a simple but interesting chord progression played on a nylon string guitar, an atmosphere of vocals, sitars, and strings swirl around as the melancholic lyrics beautifully pour out of an emotional Sullivan.

The Violet EP is not as captivating or exciting as Dare Me, but it reminds me (and hopefully you) how great this band can be. With so many indie-folk-pop-etcetera bands coming out these days, it’s always refreshing to hear a band who is doing something unique and interesting! Hopefully we’ll get more great music from them Oh! My Backbird soon!

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