The Vasco Era – Miles / 2005 Era / 4 Tracks / http://www.thevascoera.com / Reviewed 30 August 2006

This is a four track disc, so there usually is a problem getting a proper idea of the band and what they stand for. Luckily enough, The Vasco Era has a very distinctive, retro-rock sound that blends together acts like The Strokes and Jet into something with a lot of old influence but with current styles and sounds. Unlike Jet, The Vasco Era have a little bit of their own sound added to their compositions, so they are already on better footing than many other bands with a similar genre.

All of the songs on “Miles” are very radio-friendly, but pack a punch that has not been heard from radio rock since the days of AC/DC. The distortion that is present on songs like “He Came Along Again” is considerable, but the band is still able to shine in their own way through this artificial fuzz. The band has to impress individuals quickly on “Miles”, and this is precisely what they do with the disc’s four cuts. “Don’t Go To Sleep” is a blend of ZZ Top, and Molly Hatchet; the bass-heavy opening of the track works as the perfect foil to the set of vocals that is present, which recall Nirvana’s at times. The tracks are not pushing any edge of rock music, but they are able to work in providing The Vasco with a fun and interesting style through the entirety of this four-song EP.

The disc may end well before the thirteen minute mark, but The Vasco Era will have inserted themselves firmly in the minds and hearts of all of their listeners. This EP is over a year old, so chances are good that the band will be coming up with a new, full-length disc here in the next few months. There will be much more of the same on the full length, and I am confident that the band will be able to succeed with that as well as they do with “Miles”. “Turn to Blue” is the final track and it shows that The Vasco Era can try different styles and keep things interested. It is the presence of this track on the EP that makes the disc for me; without it, I would have been unsure if The Vasco Era could pull off a longer recording as the other three tracks were all in the same vein of things. Give this EP a shot.

Top Track: Turn to Blue

Rating: 6.1/10

[JMcQ]