In the midst of their run as direct support on Action Item’s highly successful Resolution Tour, Before You Exit dropped their I Like That EP, a pop/rock confection set apart by the McDonough brothers’ (Riley, Connor, and Toby) vocal harmonies and notable for its departure from the sound fans that have followed the band from the beginning might be more familiar with. The band may have traded in its more punk rock roots for a more radio-friendly pop, a decision highly defended by the band, but that does not mean the quality of musicianship, more impressive considering their youth, is compromised. This EP is sweet, catchy, and upbeat, made swoon-worthy by middle brother Riley’s boyband-perfect vocals on the majority of the tracks.
“I Like That” tackles the pop staple of boy reassuring the girl that he loves her for who she is, flaws and all, this as well as “End of the World” feature so catchy a beat and refrain that there’s no chance of them not getting stuck in your head. The EP slows down a bit on track 3 with the ballad “Soldier,” a fan favorite with its tender lyrics and smooth vocals. “A Little More You” picks up again with a clever way to profess the singer’s love, with “Settle For Less,” written with Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low, sweetly asserting that “I’m not perfect but you’re so worth it”—if you’re not crushing on them by this point, you will here. Finally, “Three Perfect Days” chronicles a failed relationship, but with a certain liveliness that completes this playful compilation of songs. With this EP, Before You Exit is creating a name for itself in the pop world, and with a small army of devoted fans behind them already, there seems to be nowhere to go but up for this band.
“I Like That” is now available on iTunes.
Have YOU checked out the EP? Let us know your thoughts!
