cut the cord. - “blush.”
Dylan Samaniego’s debut EP for his cut the cord. project delivers a punch. (Yes, the title is stylized in lowercase and yes, the period goes there, as well.) The Florida native knows how to make an enterence.
Like a quick sonic hurricane, “blush.” offers an 11-minute dose of old-school pop-punk, mixed with some heavier hardcore and emo energy. (I kept being reminded of the careful mix of sonic brutality and tunefulness that Jimmy Eat World achieved on their classic hit, "Sweetness." That is high praise!) This could feel like a standard emo and pop-punk exercise but there is something meticulous and muscular in the way these tracks are constructed and ultimately, this packs quite a punch.
It feels like the beginning of an album and it ends too quickly. Even as a quick 4-song listen, “blush.” offers up a nice arc, delivering some fresh audio whiplash, tearing through the breakup of an seemingly unhealthy relationship.
From the mysterious and engaging, meditative spoken-word intro, to the upbeat drunken repenting and relationship-related internal chaos on the title track, this is REALLY setting up something quite extraordinary.
The pummeling approach of "10th Avenue North" works really well, hard-charging into a dire, urgent frenzy. On first listen, "Bent!" impressed me the most, but that may be because of its playful dynamic shifts and fun, wonderfully quirky riff.
Length-wise, I wish there was more here, but what is here is impressive, making what should be well-worn territory by now, sound oddly novel. Although this is brief, it feels consequential. It delivers a concoction that is equal parts energy, trauma and release. If you have 11 minutes and if this sounds intriguing, give “blush.” a listen. You won’t be sorry.