Image: Kurtis Parks and the Anthem
Being a local musician and music fan, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and becoming friends with a lot of talented people. One of those people is Kurtis Parks. Since I’ve met Kurtis, he’s always been working on something. From working with his sister on Bethany and the Guitar, to producing records and writing songs, Kurtis always seems to have a full plate.
Kurtis’ latest musical endeavor is The Anthem, a rock and roll outfit that teams Parks up with Eric Montgomery (bass/guitar), Dan Moy (guitar), Rico Allen (drums) and Ethan Panton (drums). While the band’s direct and indirect influences are apparent on their debut ep, there’s nothing unoriginal about The Anthem.
There’s a sassiness, a swagger in The Anthem’s music. Nothing exemplifies this more than the track “Little Bit of Fire.” The song has a strong groove and real swanky feel to it. The guitar riff is smooth and moves fluidly as inter plays with the keyboard. The hook is catchy and the song has great movement. But the moment the stands out is right before the track crescendos. As the Parks sings “A little bit of love can break this down”, you can almost see him turn, look at the camera and flash a cocky smile before the songs erupts and the guitar comes crashing in.
The Anthem’s self-titled debut ep is full of great hooks, catchy guitar riffs, and memorable melodies. It’s a rock record with pop sensibilities. The album is great but I have two minor quibbles. The first is that the album is so polished and produced that the crescendo moments don’t always explode like I would hope. The second is the song “Awaken,” an instrumental track that sits after “Little Bit Of Fire” and the album’s closer “Letting Go.” It’s a killer song but as far as flow goes it seems a bit out of place. The album before “Awaken” is strong, and “Letting Go” is a killer closing track but “Awaken” just sits in the middle of the record a little awkwardly.
Despite some minor issues, The Anthem’s debut ep still gets 5 out of 5 stars in my book. The album is full of a great songs and memorable hooks. It’s a record worth checking out for sure.
- Kurtis Parks and the Anthem
- Six tracks
- Three Leaves Music