Review Summary: Picture Frame perfectly frames each of Trial Kennedy’s musical assets, and leaves the audience wanting more.
EPs often highlight bands best features. Each song appearing has been overanalyzed, over-criticised and purposefully choose by the band to highlight their best features. For every song on Picture Frame, this holds true. In fact, if this were a blind date, Trial Kennedy would be smiling, smelling beautiful and waiting for you with a drink in hand.
From the beginning, Picture Frame immediately re-introduces the audience to Trial Kennedy’s distinctive fusion of contemporary pop-punk-rock guitars, jazz-inspired rhythm section and wailing vocals with unconventional song structure and charming feel. Damage on Parade opens with Tim Morrison’s haunting vocals and endearing Australian accent, echoing over an overdriven guitar. The mood is unexplainably vulnerable without feeling weak or broken. You want to shift out of your seat and move closer to listen to the story that is about to be told. Morrison’s lyrics feel as if he is exercising a demon of expectation weighing heavily upon him. When he thrusts forward the closing lines ‘Get off my back, get back on track’, it is hard to not let a rye smile cross your lips and think, ‘he finally did it’. From the beginning of EP, Morrison’s vocal performance elevates with song. The animalistic growl and catchy lyrics that emerge during Knife Light, are only exceeded by the breath taking pre-chorus of Picture Frame; truly the highlight of the entire EP. Similar could be said about the musically backing that Morrison receives. Throughout the recording the audience is continuously shown that these boys have musical chops. Gray effortlessly shifts from blues-inspired note picking, to palm muted verses, to all out rock riffs. Buxton’s walking bass lines pepper songs in a way that tantalizes the audience to wanting more. While Gionis’ drumming shows maturity and an understanding of when to hold tight and when to break away.The solo on Broken Lens allows everyone in the band to step into the spot light and show their best.
Lastly, a quality that is hard to put ones finger on is the overall endearing and organic feel of the EP. Trial Kennedy albums can never be accused of being over produced. From the random ‘ahhhhhh’ at the end of a chorus in Knife Light, to the almost dive-bomb whammy bar in Broken Lens, this EP feels like a band genuinely enjoying what they do.
While Trial Kennedy is often associated with pop punk genres, this analogy can generalize a truly unique sound. Picture Frame perfectly frames each of Trial Kennedy’s musical assets, and leaves the audience wanting more.
