EP Review: Night Birds - Maimed for the Masses

Fat Wreck Chords have introduced Night Birds to a little bit more of the world with their new EP Maimed for the Masses. This is inevitably just another step toward the band’s complete world domination. I can’t think of a band to come out of the past 5 years that I have liked more, and everyone who listens to them seems to be getting just as attached as I am.

With Maimed for the Masses they face one of their first tests as a growing band: being released on a bigger label. Whether you call a band “sell-out” or not, it is hard to deny that bands tend to change their sound when they get the opportunity to spend some money on recording and post-production. The first thing I was very happy to hear was the gritty reverb-tinged lead guitar line that has come to be Night Bird’s signature sound. As the full sound kicks in, the title track “Maimed for the Masses” feels just as energetic and catchy as “Killer Waves”.

The intensity gets kicked up on the second track “Barred Out”, a song about being on the all –too recreational prescription drug Xanex. This second track is full of energy, anger, and angst. This track is a juxtaposition of every person I have ever met who does bars. The lyrics aren’t anything special, but the music makes me want to get up and break stuff. I think that this is the only thing that saves the song from being just alright. Then again, I have never done “zanies”, so this song just really doesn’t speak to me from the start, probably one reason why it was cut from the full album.

“Last Gasp” brings the Birds’ surf sound to the forefront with a winding guitar rif, whammy bar, and enough reverb to make your brain to feel like it’s shaking. Once again, this song feels a little bland for Night Birds, which explains why it is a B-side on an EP of songs that didn’t make the full length. There just isn’t much catchy about the song. The way I hear it, the emphasis of the song is placed on the reverbed staccato guitar hits that start the song and separate the verses.

The EP closes with a raucous instrumental surf song like Night Birds tend to close with. This track is good. If "Boat Trash" is the instrumental they dropped from the full length, I can’t wait to hear the ones that made it.

Overall, this is an EP leading up to an album, so you can’t put too much pressure on these songs. After all these were the songs that didn’t make it on the LP, but if you give it a few listens you really don’t get that from it. It feels like a standalone release. The single “Maimed for the Masses” is a great song, the B-sides don’t let you down, and the instrumental just kicks ass. This is a good way to get the public ready for their upcoming album.

written by Tip Toasty