Reviews

Paper the Operator have at least one constant attribute going for them on this EP release: identical production on every song. While listening, I found myself wondering if there would be a true diversity of songs and I didn't find it. Not to say the band constructs bad songs, they're quite good in the vein of pop rock, but I feel like they're missing a hook to bring fans in.

Considering this is an EP and has only six songs, I would have liked a stronger set of tracks, some displaying more than just the customary 4/4 time signature and melodic, yet monotone vocals. I mistook "Divorce Court"'s drum and guitar intro for a Blink-182 song. I'm not sure where Paper the Operator gets its inspiration, but it sounds like they just listen to pop rock all day and don't bring in any other influences.

Production is good, the mix of the EP has great levels, but even with all that, I still found the songs a little stale and emotion-less. Bassist/vocalist Jon Sebastian sounds like he could have a good range, but I don't hear it. In some cases it sounds like his voice was Pro-Tooled just to match the levels of the instrumentals. He adds little touches where I would think he would shout, but it is more a whisper. Maybe if the album had a more DIY sound - not so "produced" - more of it would shine.

Solemn Boyz has a lot of potential. I think a little more experimental influences would diversify the sound and make it sound less like late 1990s pop rock and something more individualistic. Paper the Operator need to realize that the plastic sheen of the CD sound is not always necessary.