Despite the title of this EP, Alayna is going in the right direction with her music. This is not her debut release, and shows great improvement from her previous releases. This EP ranges from booming country-rock tracks, gentle songs with outstanding lyrics, and just plain catchy tracks that would fit perfectly on country radio. We were first introduced to Alayna with her song "Crime Scene" and she is now back with the EP featuring that track The Wrong Side.
The EP kicks off with "Crazymaker," which Alayna co-wrote with Steve Dean, a songwriter who has written for Rodney Atkins, George Strait, Reba, and more. The song discusses a man who plays with women's minds and hearts, one who is basically a player. The lyrics are nothing special - just another "Picture To Burn" kind of anthem, but is big and bold production wise, and is a song that proudly displays Alayna's signature sound, making it ideal to start off the record.
Despite how well Alayna does big, bold tracks, the two highlights of this record are the more serious, slower tracks, "Cold Front" and "Two Story House." It is obvious that Alayna can kill those huge songs, like "Crime Scene' and "Trash," and belt over all of the loud electric guitars, but these two tracks show a different side of her talent. Singing a heartfelt song can be hard for singers who normally sing sassy anthems, but it doesn't seem to be a problem for Alayna. "Cold Front" has the best lyrics on the EP. The track is a powerful country-rock influenced power ballad about a man shutting out the person who loves him the most. The chorus is incredibly beautiful:
"Oooo, I feel a cold front coming on,
Oooo, the silence says it all
I spent too much time standing outside
Frozen to the bone
Oooo, I feel a cold front coming on."
This song incredible purely on the basis of the lyrics. Weather has been compared to relationships in the best songs, like Hunter Hayes' "Storm Warning" and Gary Allan's "Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)" and this song is right on par with them. The imagery and running metaphor in this song are as good as songs written by classic female songwriters like Liz Rose and Matraca Berg. Alayna does her best with powerful lyrics and powerful vocals, and this song is perfection.
Despite how well Alayna does big, bold tracks, the two highlights of this record are the more serious, slower tracks, "Cold Front" and "Two Story House." It is obvious that Alayna can kill those huge songs, like "Crime Scene' and "Trash," and belt over all of the loud electric guitars, but these two tracks show a different side of her talent. Singing a heartfelt song can be hard for singers who normally sing sassy anthems, but it doesn't seem to be a problem for Alayna. "Cold Front" has the best lyrics on the EP. The track is a powerful country-rock influenced power ballad about a man shutting out the person who loves him the most. The chorus is incredibly beautiful:
"Oooo, I feel a cold front coming on,
Oooo, the silence says it all
I spent too much time standing outside
Frozen to the bone
Oooo, I feel a cold front coming on."
This song incredible purely on the basis of the lyrics. Weather has been compared to relationships in the best songs, like Hunter Hayes' "Storm Warning" and Gary Allan's "Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)" and this song is right on par with them. The imagery and running metaphor in this song are as good as songs written by classic female songwriters like Liz Rose and Matraca Berg. Alayna does her best with powerful lyrics and powerful vocals, and this song is perfection.
"Two Story House" is the only true ballad on the EP. The delicate piano and acoustic guitar production flatter Alayna's vocals and reflect the melancholy story about a relationship in which both spouses are cheating, and both of them know, but neither will admit it. This song is another lyrical highlight, and is a song that one can listen to over and over again because of the complex story the song tells.
The EP ends with the title track. The longest song on the record by a full minute, this song is the only song written by Alayna herself. It is a very autobiographical song, and seems like the most personal song on the record. In general terms, Alayna grew up on "The Wrong Side" and it was her, all her, that brought her into country music. She came into the music industry because she wanted it, not that anyone else pushed her into doing it. This, although not the most uptempo or loud song on the EP, is definitely the most tough. This song proudly screams that Alayna can make it on her own, and she doesn't need anyone to break any rules for her. She's got it. The production of this song is absolutely flawless, with a more rocky feel than any of the other songs on the EP, more like some early Paramore songs than Faith Hill.
The free music Alayna gives away on her website is nothing compared to this. Given, those are demos, but lyrically and vocally, these six tracks are on a different playing field. They show the growth Alayna has made musically, and how she has really found her sound and established her own kind of country music. Alayna breaks through the stereotypes and barriers of country music, and creates an EP that is full of music that is completely unique, and completely Alayna.
Best tracks: Cold Front, Two Story House, The Wrong Side
Throwaway tracks: Crazymaker
Overall rating: 4 and a half crowns
The EP ends with the title track. The longest song on the record by a full minute, this song is the only song written by Alayna herself. It is a very autobiographical song, and seems like the most personal song on the record. In general terms, Alayna grew up on "The Wrong Side" and it was her, all her, that brought her into country music. She came into the music industry because she wanted it, not that anyone else pushed her into doing it. This, although not the most uptempo or loud song on the EP, is definitely the most tough. This song proudly screams that Alayna can make it on her own, and she doesn't need anyone to break any rules for her. She's got it. The production of this song is absolutely flawless, with a more rocky feel than any of the other songs on the EP, more like some early Paramore songs than Faith Hill.
The free music Alayna gives away on her website is nothing compared to this. Given, those are demos, but lyrically and vocally, these six tracks are on a different playing field. They show the growth Alayna has made musically, and how she has really found her sound and established her own kind of country music. Alayna breaks through the stereotypes and barriers of country music, and creates an EP that is full of music that is completely unique, and completely Alayna.
Best tracks: Cold Front, Two Story House, The Wrong Side
Throwaway tracks: Crazymaker
Overall rating: 4 and a half crowns
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