THE CRITICALS- FRONT DOOR CONFRONTATIONS
Nashville rock band, The Criticals, are an up-and-coming group consisting of Parker Forbes (vocals), Cole Shugart (lead guitar), David Michael Meadows (bass), Chuchi Rosas (rhythm guitar), and Tyelen Gibbs (drums). The band has recently gained some traction for their performances with Bird And Byron amongst others and on June 21st, 2023, the five piece band dropped their first EP since 2020, titled Front Door Confrontations.
TRACK ONE: ALL THE WAY
As an artist, choosing a song to kick off a collection of pieces is tricky. It has to be the perfect balance of emotion and energy while also being a great representative of the entire album itself. All The Way is a terrific track to begin Front Door Confrontations: it’s groovy, upbeat, and really driven by the “sex rock” aura The Criticals have formed as a band. Gibbs puts his money where his mouth is especially, reminding listeners that drummers are an essential.
TRACK TWO: BELMONT
A big aspect of music that is lacking in the mainstream sector is that of personal lyricism or rather, writing from one’s own experiences. This gives music that extra touch of passion and thankfully, The Criticals are implementing that into their work. Belmont, as stated by the band, is a “vivid description of the community we were all immersed in at that time of our lives (2018). It was so electric and so real.” The song is coming of age and eclectic, forcing the audience to look deeper into time by its very nature.
TRACK THREE: CALL THE CLICHÉ
In general, Shugart has a style comparable to Jonas Swanson (The Backseat Lovers), Joe Memmel (COIN), and Ashton Minnich (Sunroom) while also maintaining a air reminiscent of the late Jimi Hendrix through his work. Call The Cliché is a guitar-centered piece thanks to Shugart and Rosas, what more could someone ask of a rock song?
TRACK FOUR: CLEVER GIRL
An often overlooked instrumental foundation is that of the bass guitar but fret not, Meadows will not let us forget the importance of the four-stringed instrument if he can help it. Though all of their songs have very intricate basslines that make them stand out as a musical force, Clever Girl really takes the cake for it. Though young, Meadows is very obviously headed for a path preceding bassists such as John Paul Jones, Peter Hook, and Jack Bruce went down.
For a more extensive look at Clever Girl, check out my past review of the single here: The Criticals' "Clever Girl" Review.
TRACK FIVE: BURN WITH ME
A much darker twist with riveting grit is Burn With Me. Forbes unleashes his inner warrior through raw vocals while Gibbs channels the spirit of John Bonham with a Roger Taylor poise. Shugart and Rosas kill it with admirable valor and of course, Meadows runs the show just by doing what he does best. This funkier approach to work is a great step for the group and no song could top it in my book. That is, except for the song that really speaks for this entire record, as it holds the same title.
TRACK SIX: FRONT DOOR CONFRONTATIONS
The acoustic guitar comes into play with Front Door Confrontations: a piece that just has to be excellent by all standards. The song is slower but still just as fervent with an intensity that is almost incommunicable. The backing vocals of the rest of the band is a unique lick added into the mix of greatness and it’s just an honest ending to such a phenomenal body of art made by the esteemed Parker Forbes, Cole Shugart, Tyelen Gibbs, David Michael Meadows, and Chuchi Rosas, five artists that absolutely will prevail.
Amidst the release of Front Door Confrontations, The Criticals are touring the west coast until late September. Many (myself included) are begging for more dates in other places such as the midwest and east coast but that remains to be seen.
To listen to Front Door Confrontations, visit their official Spotify.
For merch, tickets,booking, and more, visit their official website.