Wise Up!

The Hard Lessons followed up their 2005 No Fun debut LP Gasoline with the self-released Wise Up! EP. Produced by Zach Shipps (Electric Six) and the bandmembers, this offering shows the group's songwriting chops have grown, while still retaining the core of the guitar/synth-based pop/rock blend from their previous recording. The first track "Bamboo" is a perfect example of their current direction with the repetitive, driving rock riffage of Augie Visocchi set against the backdrop of Ko Ko Louise's retro '80s sounding synthesizer. The lyrical content may come across as just simple rhyming wordplay, matching up words like "bamboo" and "tattoo," but it's delivered with enough passion and gusto to dissuade too much deep lyrical analysis. The group takes it down a notch with the moody ballad "It Bleeds." The vocal interplay between Visocchi and Louise takes centerstage on this song. The way they harmonize on the chorus is haunting and draws you into the somber feeling of the melody. "Move to California" is a mid-tempo pop gem about a Midwesterner lamenting over their significant other's relocation to California. Again this track showcases the girl-boy vocal dynamic perfectly as Visocchi and Louise trade lyrical lines like a couple who've gone through everything together and come out the other side stronger from the experience. If you're someone who likes upbeat girl-guy vocal harmonizing mixed with rockin' guitar and '80s synth sound, then you'll love this EP. ~ Chris "Box" Taylor, Rovi