By Juan Zambrano
St. Catharines DIY Punk rockers The Midwife Crisis return with their new EP, Go Nuts For Donuts. This vibrant collection of rockers effectively blends its bright atmosphere with variably dour lyrical scenarios.
Go Nuts For Donuts sees The Midwife Crisis brimming with confidence and ready to rock. This drive is evident from the opening chords of the EP’s opener I Hate The Beach. Aggressive guitars and marching drums lead the charge, providing the perfect backdrop for Midwife Crisis frontman Andrew Lisson’s scathing farewell to a former flame. It’s an opener that grabs the listener’s attention and never lets it go.
I Hate The Beach tells listeners exactly what to expect from the rest of Go Nuts For Donuts. This includes scenarios from an often-disorganized life, elevated by punchy melodies and passionate vocals. The somewhat depressing nature of these scenarios is noticeable but everything else about these songs is so lively that listeners will often find themselves pumping their fists and embracing the chaos alongside the songs’ protagonists.
The EP’s second track Jackson Pollock’s Pharmacy is perhaps the best example of The Midwife Crisis’ modus operandi throughout Go Nuts For Donuts. The track’s sunny atmosphere and earworm of a chorus makes ‘reading Nietzsche under the unwashed sheets’ sound like an enticing prospect for life.
There’s plenty of fun to be had beyond those two highlights as well. The closing number The Worst Thing (I’ve Ever Done) is comical in how horrible it makes its protagonist out to be. Raspberry Vodka may suffer from shaky balancing between vocals and instruments but it’s such a headbanger that the track’s lyrics often feel inessential to its enjoyment.
The Midwife Crisis frontman Andrew Lisson describes his song writing style as personal and a blend of emotion and humour. All these elements are present in spades on Go Nuts For Donuts. The EP’s five tracks present scenarios clearly drawn from experience yet relatable to most people.
Combine this relatability with often humorous, poignant reflections and the result is a rocking reminder of the fun that can be found in life’s most chaotic moments.
Stream The Midwife Crisis’ latest EP, Go Nuts For Donuts, starting February 26.
