First off, I’m not going to bother comparing this EP of Enemy You covers to the originals. Why? Because that’s not the point. A covers record that’s only about the originals is a novelty record that you play for a lark. I’m interested in records that hold up on their own merit. Lucky for us, Cluttered and Talk Show Host pulled it off with the four song Enemy Us.
The strength is that while neither band particularly sounds like Enemy You, each group has similar strengths in melody, poignant lyrical delivery and tempo. This is upbeat, meaningful punk played by two new-ish Canadian bands, each adding their own contemporary twists to modernize the sound without changing the meaning or vibe. The bands have also swapped singers and, at times, come together as one giant band of sorts.
At the start I was a little thrown in hearing Matty Grace’s voice over the heavier guitars. Grace’s style is a bit softer than the originals, but it only takes a few lines to move on. Later, as in, “Where No One Knows My Name,” the group vocals and tradeoffs are extremely powerful, making the f-bomb hit even harder. The build-up from minimalism to the chorus is powerful and underscores the strong messaging. Opener “72 Hours” is probably the most Cluttered-like, whereas “Adios (To You)” has the most Talk Show Host-vibe. But really, this record feels like a coming together of three bands: the two that play the songs and swap members, plus the original Enemy You. While I don’t mean to say that Enemy You is dated, but this collection nicely gives their songs some modern flourishes.
Switching up vocals and adding gang choruses from both bands together really adds depth to the EP and it feels like a record instead of a standalone single. This is a nice approach to the tribute split and it boosts the overall experience. To repeat my point, I’ve been writing about the songs and the takeaway rather than comparing any of the bands involved, which highlights just how well this release comes together.
