Written by Jennifer Moglia
Delaware DIY Emo band Noise Plant has finally released their highly-anticipated (at least by us here at Legends of Tomorrow) debut EP, titled “Neutral Gray.” This release serves as the follow-up to “Live From the Paper Mill”, which included live versions of each song on “Neutral Gray” plus a cover of Modern Baseball favorite “Your Graduation”, as well as the previously released demo version of “Boys With Nicotine Addictions”, also featured on the “Neutral Gray” EP, both released in 2019.
Right off the bat, what stands out about Noise Plant is their unique sound coupled with their beautifully profound lyrics. Although traditionally speaking it’s probably most similar to pop-punk, this band’s sound really just makes me feel like I’m the main character in a coming of age indie film (yes, I know that isn’t a real genre).
As soon as the opening track, “Boys With Nicotine Addictions” started, I was hooked; the step up in production quality from the demo and live versions here is super evident, and makes it so much easier to appreciate the music itself. The lyrics tell the story of someone moving on and realizing their worth after being belittled, the peppy instrumental layered over vocalist Leela Puffer proclaiming “You must not know me / That is clear to see / You used me but you couldn’t choose me / And now you can’t have me.”
Track two, “The Otherside” is where guitarist James D’Elia really shines; this one is filled to the brim with catchy riffs that keep your attention and keep things moving for the full three minutes and three seconds. The imagery in the lyrics, discussing “Bleak nights / Cold hands” and “Striped shirts / Colored hair” really helps you visualize the person Puffer is singing about and makes you hate that person just as much as it sounds like they do.
“Late Nights”, also stylized as “Late Nights in Newark”, has a super danceable, almost groovy-sounding chorus that makes you wish you were at a tiny, sweaty DIY gig seeing this band live immediately. The themes of moving on are present again here, especially with the phrases “Tell all your friends / I’m a meaningless fling / Tell all your friends / But it doesn’t really sting”, and probably my favorite lines on the EP, “I don’t wanna be another pretty face / I don’t wanna be the steps that you retrace”, both elevated by the tenacity and confidence that Puffer sings them with.
The clear stand-out song on this release is undoubtedly the titular track, “Neutral Gray.” After listening to this EP a few times, I was shocked when I finally looked at this song’s runtime and saw it was just under four minutes; it feels longer, but not in a bad way, in the sense that there’s so much content both sonically and lyrically packed into it, tied up neatly with a bow.
Its place as a closing track is absolutely flawless as well, especially if you’re looking at this EP as one cohesive story (as I always do); the protagonist, whoever that may be, has reached some sort of closure with the person that hurt them and the pain that they’ve been caused, accepting that things may not be great, but they’re not bad either. Aside from the amazing lyrics (credited to Sara M.), the vocal delivery is at its strongest here, particularly in the screams towards the end of the track, “This strains my neck / Being kept on a leash / I’m not a goddamn dog / I’m human, I’m free / I see what’s best for me / I need to go after better things / And leave you where no good ever brings.”
There’s something hauntingly beautiful about this release ending with the vocalist’s unhinged screams reassuring us that they’re “feeling okay, neutral gray”, and I absolutely cannot get enough of it. Although all four songs will be in my rotation for a while, this is without question one of my favorites out of all of the tracks that have come out this year.
After taking a few days to truly listen to and experience this EP, it’s clear that there is nothing “neutral gray” about Noise Plant; their completely unique sound and the vivid storytelling in their lyrics feels like watching a movie in full-color after a lifetime of seeing everything in black-and-white. If you haven’t checked them out, either through streaming or at a show, this EP is a perfect place to start; the progression from their first releases to now is insane, and this is their best work by a mile.
“Neutral Gray” is available to stream everywhere you listen to music, and you can support the band by buying it (and/or their live EP) on Bandcamp, as well as following them on Twitter @noiseplant302. Huge thanks to Noise Plant (Leela Puffer, Alimarie Santos, Mike Collins, and especially Legends of Tomorrow podcaster James D’Elia) for being such huge supporters of our publication from the very beginning; we’re beyond proud of you and can’t wait to see what you do next. If you’ve given this release a listen, let us know what you think by tweeting us @lgndsoftmrw!
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