EP Review: BLOXX - 'Modern Day'
Uxbridge indie-poppers BLOXX gifts us an exhilarating gem of an EP in the form of ‘Modern Day’.
Following on from their debut album ‘Lie Out Loud’ in 2020, BLOXX are following on with a euphoric indie gem of an EP.
Instantly jumping in with bliss filled guitar riffs, merging with spirited and clean vocals on the title track ‘Modern Day’. BLOXX presents us a song commenting on the world around us. It’s not rare to hear songs with musicians giving their opinions and thoughts about the world around us; in fact, it’s become increasingly popular. However, BLOXX do something different with ‘Modern Day’. The band doesn’t give their opinions or feelings, instead just state what they are seeing, the song feels like the band wanted to hold up a mirror to the society around them. Lead singer Ophelia Booth sings “everyone seems happy but their not inside, cover up the cracks with another lie”, “head underwater while the worlds on fire”, “but it wont change it’s the modern day.”
These lyrics paired with the upbeat, lively guitars and vocals makes a song that feels comforting and positive. Whilst having a catchy chorus, it’s a real kick start to open this EP and a song that is sure to get stuck in your head.
Following on with a similar tone ‘Television Promises’ which lyrics include “everybody wants to be reality stars but wouldn’t it be nice to just drive a second hand car”, “If nobody was different then we’d all just look the same.” BLOXX let out their frustrations with a slightly more grunge inspired beat to their indie rooted music.
‘Runaway’ follows on taking us down an alternative path with a more electronic sound but keeping that edgy and euphoric sound we’ve come to know and love from BLOXX. Speaking on the track BLOXX describe the process of ‘Runaway’, "I wrote a song in my dream that I was totally convinced was a smash hit number 1, I got straight out of bed and ran to my garden studio to realise I’d forgotten all of it, so I wrote this in its place. It’s almost like a homage to all lost melodies and personification of the songwriting process, which metaphorically broadened into a sort of romantic mishap too. But if looking at its bare and boring core, very much just a song about forgetting a song."
Coming in with the quartettes most personal song on this triumphant EP, ‘Weight In Gold’. A song that explores self-worth and self-perception in the darker times. Lead singer Ophelia Booth spoke on the meaning behind this track, "This was written about not knowing my own worth as an individual and hating myself, and based on a few things my dad said to me at my worst during heartbreak."
‘Happy Anniversary (To Being Lonely)’ is the final song to close out this EP from BLOXX. It’s a song that delves into heartbreak and questions how to move on from past hurt. The melancholy lyrics “maybe if I change we’d be so happy…maybe I’m to blame” are disguised with buoyant and rosy melodies. An interestingly delightful contrast, creates a song that takes the hurt and bitterness into a jump around crowd pleaser.
BLOXX’s newest EP ‘Modern Day’ consistently delivers elated indie songs with lyricism that comes form the heart, cleverly paired with contrasting melodies. Resulting in an EP that is sure to leave us all hitting repeat and craving more.
Words by Anna Street
