Welcome To Ashley – The Absent Man EP

Welcome To Ashley is a four piece-band from Chicago, IL whose music exemplifies what a guitar band should sound like. The Absent Man EP follows The Catbird Seat EP and the band’s 2006 self-titled full-length debut. On The Absent Man EP, WTA exhibit their confidence as a band and as musicians. Amazing is a clichéd expression when it comes to music, and I hate to use it, but the Absent Man EP is amazing. On the opening track singer Coley Kennedy sings “I do not hate you, I do not wish you well” which sounds like something Morrissey would have written for one of his songs. While there is no denying the influences of bands like The Smiths and The Replacements on WTA’s sound, the band certainly create their own unique style of music; simply put, WTA are a great Rock & Roll band, no gimmicks, no fuss, no overproduction, just plain, good old fashion Rock & Roll.

The songs on this EP have a gloomy undertone and are not overly condensed. The track “Trust in Me” has hints of The Clash and “Nothing But Grey Skies Ahead” contains a delicious and melodic bass line that makes you forget that the lyrics of the song are to some extent depressing. “Bang You’re Dead” could be considered the catchiest song in the EP with its lush melody and brawny bass line. The lyrics on the EP are witty and beautifully written but are bested by the music itself which catches most of the attention and in this case that’s not a bad thing at all.

The songs on The Absent Man EP are not poppy yet you could find yourself tapping your feet to these songs. Like The Smiths, WTA’s lyrics are dark but the music they create is entertaining. Welcome To Ashley could be one of a few bands that could pick up right were The Smiths left off in the 80’s, they have the confidence and the talent to become one of the elite bands of this decade, I just wonder if ten or twenty years from now other artist are going to be citing WTA as an influence. The Absent Man EP is impressive and in a world of fusion and experimentation within music, it is a breath of fresh air to have a band that just wants to rock.