Let Me Run

Broken Strings (2010)

Bryne Yancey

Let Me Run have returned with a new vocalist, and their Broken Strings EP is a vast improvement over 2009's Meet Me at the Bottom, which had some good moments but was bogged down by a lack of variety and weird, oversaturated production.

The band's ascent is best displayed in "Brocomotive," a track with a huge, anthemic chorus thanks to some catchy vocal melodies. "Catch You When You Fall" keeps the catchiness going, employing a bouncing bassline and some well-placed "ooh"s, and the song as a whole sounds a bit like Matt Pryor fronting the Loved Ones.

"CSJ" is a slower affair, but the lack of speed is compensated for in the form of passionate, depth-laden vocals by not only Dan Maxwell, but the band surrounding him as well. A hooky solo in the refrain helps, too. The "ruin you" chants in the chorus of "Ruiner" help maintain the infectiousness. In fact, gang vocals are prominent in most of these six songs, and they're utilized quite well.

Let Me Run expand things a bit on the near five-minute opus "Thank You My Dear." The track opens with distant vocals and minimal instrumentation before crescendoing into a massive chorus replete with "hey"s, "whoa"s and "oh"s and a passionate plea from Maxwell that assumed "dear" in question still sees something in him. It's appropriate, considering a lot of folks saw something in Let Me Run a year and some change ago; only this time around, they're leaving an indelible impression. The band has been given a new lease on life and on Broken Strings, they make the most of it.