Posted: November 16th, 2008
Contributed By: Nick

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	The Veer Union is: Cripsin (Vocals) Eric (Guitar) Fid (Guitar) Roots (Bass) Neil (Drums)

Overview: Leave it to the finely tuned A&R skills of your dear TuneLab to break the good stuff to you first. The Veer Union, then known as simply Veer, were our featured band for April 2007. By year’s end, the band were formally welcomed into the Universal Motown Records family and started piecing together their label debut with producer Greg Archilla. The effort is coming up on the horizon, but in the meantime, The Veer Union have made an eponymous EP available for purchase. The group is currently in the midst of a “fun time and lunchtime” tour, hitting as many high schools at high noon as possible.

The Good: The Veer Union spend these six songs proving why they were awarded a major label deal. Leading the pack is the dashing newbie “Seasons”, bleeding with energy and infectiousness. “Seasons” is brought to fruition by front-man Crispin’s vocal accentuation and dynamics, and would be the perfect catalyst to galvanize rock radio. “Over Me” is a fluid balance of sparkling, vibrant verses and trigger happy choruses. The song’s disposition immediately drops from only slightly melancholy to completely morose following the second chorus, a crafty tactic that helps embellish the bittersweet nature of the tune. Steady and consistent, “Falling Apart” is a catchy concoction of gentle verses and bustling choruses. During the bridge and right at the very end, there is a clear allusion to Burn Season, a chance to reminisce that is always welcomed. Just like its billing, “Another World Away” is starlit by celestial vocals and guitars, while soaring choruses shoot it to another dimension. Prior to the bridge, the sound of amp static and feedback is clearly audible, a mindless, yet strategically witty move. “Wish You Well” swirls with ghostly verses that help the already thick, sweeping choruses stand out as they rightfully should. Waving adios is the soulful “Hide The Truth”, where drummer Neil’s articulate snare pattern puts some meat on the song’s bones. The serenity of its verses is cunning, keeping you on your toes, expecting the band to erupt at any moment. However The Veer Union are shrewd in the restraint they show on “Hide The Truth”, only sparking their fuse for a quick dynamic-driven boom before retiring as peacefully and carefully as they began the track.

The Bad: Really, there’s not too much to fault. The chorus of “Falling Apart” drags a little bit, and at times its verses come across as catchier and more accessible. Although the way The Veer Union frames the mammoth chorus of “Wish You Well” with fragile verses is a sound approach, the choruses end up completely eclipsing the verses in the end. This is unfortunate, because unintentionally left in the shadows are verses which are not only enjoyable but rather intelligent as well. The band chose to throw “Seasons” on this EP, the only newly recorded tune in the mix. While a generous treat, I would much rather feast on a 3 track sampler of entirely new material, rather than a six song EP of which five are taken directly from the band’s 2006 release ‘Time To Break the Spell‘.

Bottomline: The Veer Union are well on their way to a success in rock ‘n roll and this EP proves it. “Seasons” already has me pumped up for the new record and it’s always nice to revisit the Veer days as the bulk of this CD does. The band has chops, plain and simple. And if you haven’t heard of The Veer Union yet, don’t worry. You will soon enough.

Rating: 9 out of 10