EP REVIEW: Cry Baby’s ‘Everything I didn’t Say’ Rewinds Pop To 1991
EP REVIEW: Cry Baby’s ‘Everything I didn’t Say’ Rewinds Pop To 1991
The South Carolina group have brewed up a pot of funk-laden rhythms.
Words By: Garrett Kearns
South Carolina indie pop group Cry Baby have released a collection of infectious tunes on their debut EP Everything I Didn’t Say. Their sound is how we remember the 90’s thirty years later. They’ve taken the textures and hallmarks from pop music of that era and brought it to the present. Cry Baby harken back to previous decades, but they’ve done more than just copy a formula. The group obviously knows their stuff and have given what is now past a much-needed makeover. The fat bass boom is an upgrade from contemporary music — giving these songs a grooving bottom end that can make anyone dance.
The EP starts with “Slower,” a bass heavy introduction that sets the tone for the rest of the record. This leads directly into “Give You Up,” a mid-tempo track complete with sparkling chimes. The song is simple but effective. The repetitive chorus hypnotizes us while the drums and bass provide a welcome punch. “1991” transports us to the titular year with a weather broadcast that expands into a funky track. The chanting background vocals exclaim “Hell yeah!” after each line of the chorus. And what early 90’s pop song would be complete without a rap in the middle? Back then this move would be seen as a hit or miss but Cry Baby doesn’t veer off course by including it. “Must Be Something” is a biting retort at an ex that leans more into the present but still has those record scratches to keep things vintage. “She Likes to Get High” is an easy laid-back groove. Keyboards and subtle guitar add spice to the track.
The band shared this about the making of the EP: “Everything I Didn’t Say is a mixtape of the past two years for Cry Baby. With it being our first full release, we hoped to include a full range of songs that sound like the tapes we made growing up. We wanted a record that had a little something for everyone in it. Everything I Didn’t Say was made with a completely DIY approach. We were involved in every step of the project — shooting album covers, filming music videos, printing and designing shirts. When people listen to this record they are getting something truly home grown.”
The final tracks “Everything I didn’t Say” and “Prom Song” fade into each other to create an extended slow dance. “Prom Song” is not explosive or grand, but it brings the EP home with a truly classic vibe that transports us to a time before social media or ubiquitous Internet culture. Cry Baby puts a punctuation mark on the 90s and they just happen to do it with style.
