REVIEW: A Wayward Heart - As Sure As Seasons Change

Left to Right: Corbin Marshall, Taylor Christy, Ethan Amerine, and Austin Livingood.

In the 10 or so years since I split from mainstream music and began digging into underground and local scenes, I have come to know many musicians. I have seen countless bands come and (unfortunately) go. I have seen much raw talent that is brimming with limitless potential, but have far too few times seen that potential realized. That being said (and much to my excitement), Northern Kentucky's A Wayward Heart has a new EP, and it is brilliant. Where their previous effort, 2009's A Wayward Heart EP was predominantly Austin alone with his guitar, As Sure As Seasons Change is fleshed out with the help of Ethan Amerine (Bass), Corbin Marshall (Keys), and Taylor Christy (Drums). The new album is such a leap forward that one would expect this unsigned quartet to be veterans of the indie rock/pop scene; it is truly hard to believe that they were able to accomplish so much creatively in only a year.

The songs are bigger than life, at times reminiscent of bands like Manchester Orchestra and The Features, but also at times calling on the spirit of U2 to help set themselves apart from their contemporaries. One thing that can be said about this band, however, is that you can't hear their influences in the way that you can hear Joy Division when you listen to Interpol. Their sound is their own and they have worked hard for it. Tracks like "Sheer Conspiracy", "Another Made Burn", and "Apparition" are rollicking and dancy anthems, complete with groovy percussion and hooks aplenty. But then tracks like "There Is A Time" and "The Ocean, The Flame" are throwbacks to old spirituals and early Sunny Day Real Estate, respectively. The album would not be complete, however, without an acoustic ballad similar to those seen on their previous effort, as is the case with the track, "Let Go".

A Wayward Heart EP was good, but it was obviously an early effort. As Sure As Seasons Change is 5 steps forward and more than anyone could have expected or even hoped for from such a young band. If this is where they find themselves on their sophomore EP, where then will they find themselves in the future? I for one, cannot wait to find out.

Tracklisting:
1. Intro
2. Apparition
3. Another Made Burn
4. The Ocean, The Flame
5. Let Go
6. Sheer Conspiracy
7. There Is A Time

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