Everything Everything - iTunes Festival: London 2010 - EP


I've been listening to this album a lot recently.  I was unaware of its existence until last month when I stumbled upon it whilst browsing iTunes.  As a big fan of Everything Everything, I knew this EP - featuring nine of the original eleven tracks from their debut Man Alive, played live at London's Roundhouse - was a must-have download.

The best way to describe this EP would be to say that it's a 'louder' version of Man Alive.  If that's possible.  Crazy hooks, clashing synths, falsetto vocals and totally random lyrics - pretty much all of the qualities that made Man Alive such a uniquely addictive debut - are all present here, just on an enhanced level.  From listening to the EP, it's clear that the band make for a great live act and though all the instrumentation is tight, the backing vocals are particularly impressive.

I think the most noteworthy track here is 'NASA Is On Your Side'.  Jonathan Higg's lead vocals work beautifully against the bass and keys.  Overall, the live instrumentation gives the song an intensity which is perhaps lacking on the studio version that appears on Man Alive.  'Photoshop Handsome' is another standout track, largely due to the fantastic middle 8 breakdown featuring multiple chants and call-and- response between the lead and backing vocals.  A stampeding instrumental of guitar and drums makes for a perfect climax leading into the final chorus.

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