A captivating rock sound stirs across The Glow, an EP from Baltimore-based band James BonTempo & Truth Tables. Themes of resilience and redemption infuse within tracks that often swell from jangly introspection into anthemic hookiness, further propelled by the outstanding work of producer Brian McTear and engineer Amy Morrissey. Robbie Bennett (The War on Drugs) also memorably contributes organ and piano.
Kicking the EP into motion, “Alright” exudes a jam-friendly fervor in the sporadic percussive pushes and twangy guitar free-flowing. Dexterous drums and feedback-friendly guitar work craft ample momentum on this instrumental opener, which moves seamlessly into the more debonair rocker “Here Ever After.” A jangling guitar-fronted production, with shades of The Replacements, melds here with an approachable lyrical depiction of “this place,” — where comfort and “nothing but laughter and shady afternoons,” permeate. Playful organs add an enjoyably radiant quality into the mid-point, then driving into a satiating conclusion.
A dynamic tonal arsenal, ranging from bass-y sparseness to warming rock expanses, immerses on “April’s Last Stand.” Quaint guitar chiming surround the initial verses, building with steady intensity. The “nothing ventured, nothing gained,” line signals a breezy push of guitar progressions, ushering in a gentle introspection. The final minute continues its melodic charms, incorporating multiple vocal layers within a more power-pop charm. “Nothing Breaks Like a Promise” comes next, delighting as well in its ascent from organ-touched verses into more bursting energy via the cathartic rises.
The Glow finishes very strong in “Incandescent City” and “The Dream.” The former is a psych-friendly epic that sprawls over 11 minutes, firmly showcasing the band’s knack for beautifully climactic structures. Twangy guitars and solemn organs lead a subdued first half, then escalating steadily into whirring doses of distortion and brisk percussion; it’s a thorough standout on an EP full of them. “The Dream” is a fully memorable finale, amongst the EP’s most ardent efforts — especially in the “all that we see,” vocal outpouring. The Glow is a riveting success of an EP from James BonTempo & Truth Tables.
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