ALBUM REVIEW: Archer Vs Gunman – Beneath Fading Lights EP

The great musician adage of the last century is probably the Walt Disney quote (or P.T. Barnum depending on who you ask) “always leave them wanting more”, and with 3 songs in only 8 minutes, Greenville’s Archer Vs Gunman deliver on the proverb with spades. Everything you initially liked about Archer Vs Gunman is still there: the concise pop structure, frontman Shaun Williams gruff yet gentle vocal delivery, and bouncy bass all on top of drummer Andrew Parker’s powerful yet concise hits. But this with this tried and true formula we find the addition of lead guitar and keys, which serve to further flesh out the song arrangements.

It’s funny how you can never REALLY tell what a listening audience will latch onto (Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby” was originally a b-side.) When running into Shaun Williams last week he mentioned that the EP was more or less just an outlet for them to record the first track “Lighter Thief”. But while “Lighter Thief” wastes no time grabbing the listeners attention with it’s powerful chorus and keys, the EP’s standout is the next song, “Heart Of The City”. Combining the breeziness of The Cure’s “Close To Me” with Lucero’s slow-building 1372 Overton Park album-stealer “Smoke”. The songs contemplative lyrics over a bittersweet refrain, definitely tugs at the heartstrings. Closing track “Sally” is prob the closest we’ll get to the older AVG material, but that’s never a bad thing.

While some of the guitar arrangements can sound a bit overcrowded (verses of Lighter Thief), my only real complaint is it seems AVG are trying to leave the party while it’s still going. Why are you trying to leave so soon? We’re still here!

The band will be playing the release show at The Handlebar in Greenville this Saturday with opening act Our Western Sky. Admission is Free.