Any band trying to make a name for itself has to prove several things, but for me the most important is proving that they can write good songs. Of course, what makes a ‘good song’ is subjective, but you know what I mean. I have reviewed local lad’s Venus Effect twice before (here and here) and combining those two songs with ‘Take It Easy’ lets me know that the lads have a fixed idea of their sound (in a sweet spot between Oasis & Foo Fighters). That’s a good thing in itself because, without ever wanting to rigidly pigeonhole a band, it is good to be able to say ‘for fans of…’ with justification. I also like that Venus Effect has decided to concentrate on recording and releasing a song at a time, instead of going down the E.P. route. It’s not that releasing an E.P. is wrong per se, but let’s face it, a great many E.P.s have only one stand out song on them, and are therefore effectively a single with fluff attached. If a band concentrates on writing a song at a time and values quality over quantity, then chances are quality will improve.
So yeah, ‘Take It Easy’ starts with a rolling guitar riff straight off ‘What’s The Story’, has that Oasis drum beat intro to boot, and has a very Gallagher bros feel all the way through. And, there is nothing wrong with that at all, not when it is done as well as this, with a song that stands on its own two feet and has a certain immediacy to it. Well done lads, keep ‘er lit!
