CHAPEL
Sunday Brunch
RISE
10/10
INTELLIGENT PARTY FUN: Sunday Brunch is first and foremost a party record. Touching on influences ranging from Twenty One Pilots (“Miss Monogamy,” “Don’t You Love Me”) and fun (“Caught Up”), Chapel may very well be surfing mainstream airwaves consistently in 2018. The duo takes all the best elements of big name pop acts, crushes them into fine confetti, and kicks their party off right. Crying out youthful mantras such as “I’d rather be broke than brain dead” on “We’ve Got Soul” defines Chapel’s laments for simpler times. Their spry, playful, and occasionally immature lyrics (“I’m a boojee-ass bitch”), though consistent with this genre, sometimes feel unnecessary, as their less gimmicky tracks are pure gold. “See You Again” is a wonderful piano-driven ballad, while “Fools Gold” channels (and beats) Tyson Ritter (The All-American Rejects) vocals. The latter track will be one of the best songs of the year and hopefully represents the band’s future direction. Sunday Brunch embodies the misconception of a previously easy life, when youthful angst felt like the end of the world. Chapel presents these longings in a beautifully fun way, with clever lyrics and strained vocals reminiscent of mid 2000s emo. This EP is big, not only in vibe but in preview for what the duo is capable of this year. ~ Jameson Ketchum
