Angela's Dish - My BodyIs An Ashtray (EP)

Sat 18th Nov, 2006 in Music Reviews

The latest offering from Angela’s Dish, their second EP My Body Is An Ashtray, is overall a solid effort from the four Central Coast NSW guys, but regrettably there are a few insubstantial moments. The album starts ineffectively. The clarity in the vocals and its strength are impressive and recall a young Phil Jamieson. In addition, the somewhat feminine, high-pitched moments are quite a surprise and are enjoyable. However, the sweet lyrics do not make up for the simplistic song structure and typical guitar sounds. The EP would’ve best begun with track four, Just A Game, as it packs a punch and has more edge than any other of the songs recorded here. The escalation in guitar activity and energy towards the end of the track makes it truly refreshing and a joy to listen to.

Having done nation-wide tours with the likes of Gyroscope, After The Fall, Grand Fatal and Behind Crimson Eyes, all aspects of Angela’s Dish’s music is more mature in comparison to first EP Lie Die. The songwriting of duo Joshua and Michael Harris is sharper and their story telling methods are absorbing in their honest, straightforward and down to earth approach. There is also a greater variety in their tunes. The second and third tracks, My Screaming Heart and Lock You Out respectively, sonically contain more depth and sensitivity. These sounds are interesting and individual. The well-layered acoustic guitars and the relatable lyrics create these. On the whole, My Body Is An Ashtray is not the most challenging of EPs, however it is definitely radio-friendly and the agreeable pop/rock songs will satisfy their audience, young adolescents who dig the lighter side of rock.