Urban Goose Project – s/t
(Independent)

I can’t pinpoint exactly when it became hip for punk rock and indie rock bands to pick up an acoustic guitar, but I am pretty sure it was Dashboard Confessional who persuaded most people that unplugged music could still be full of energy and emotion. There have been a lot of bands that have since attempted to emulate the Dashboard stripped down sound, to the point where it is already being done far too frequently to be interesting or different anymore. The worst part is that many of the bands don’t even really understand what it was that made the first Dashboard Confessional record an instant classic. Even Chris Carabba himself seems to have lost touch with that original batch of songs and the intimate feel with which they were performed.

Listening to this debut EP from Toronto’s Urban Goose Project, there is no avoiding the fact that their music is heavily influenced by Dashboard Confessional. Fortunately, they really seem to have a grasp on what makes a song catchy and emotional without sounding too sappy or repetitive. The band is actually a duo, which may explain partially why they are able to play their songs without sounding cliched or redundant. There’s not enough members to have a drummer or full-time bass player, which is good because as Dashboard Confessional proved, acoustic music can sound a little dull and pretentious when a full band is involved. However, a second person helps to round out the sound by adding vocal harmonies, piano/keyboard and additional guitar parts. It’s also interesting to note that the guitars are not strictly acoustic, and the injection of electric guitar in just the right places also helps the Urban Goose Project to rise above the limitations of the acoustic format.

Lyrically the band has a penchant for the same introspective focus on relationships and personal stories that many emo bands do, but they don’t try to force the songs to have an emotional impact. They simply let the music speak for itself, which is definitely a sign of maturity for a band that is still young and full of potential growth.

I still can’t say that the album sounds all that original or groundbreaking, but it’s not half bad for what it is. The songwriting is pretty strong, and both Nick and Sam have great singing voices. With a little bit of exposure the Urban Goose Project could become something more than just a small indie band you read about in a zine. Worth a listen if you’re in the market for something honest and heartwarming. — Sean