The
White Sleeves EP, like
Deathray's self-titled debut album, is a well-written and likeable collection of songs. It opens with the sound of twittering birds and the acoustic guitar strumming of "Make Me Do," a pleasant, low-key, and melancholy number with guest musician Max Hart's organ perculating in the background. The pace picks up a little and the vocals become more detached-sounding as the band moves into a new wave groove on the EP's catchy title track. The two following selections, "Not the Same" and "Making Sure It's Canada," are sulky rock songs that are reasonably appealing but less distinguished than the two tracks that preceeded them. But the final offering, "Let's Be Friends," is an engagingly melodic rock song that would sound perfect on the car radio while driving with the windows down in the summer. ~ Todd Kristel