Mind Equals Blown
  • Home
  • Music
    • Fast Five
    • 3 Of The Week
  • Film/TV
  • Photos
  • Podcast
  • Pop-Punk May Madness
Doing Better No Sleep Review
Album Reviews, Reviews 0

Doing Better: No Sleep

By David Barnes · On May 22, 2017


No Sleep is a new EP from Hamilton Township crooners Doing Better. A perfect example of well executed post-hardcore, this four song collection feel reminiscent of early Touché Amoré mixed with the modern twist of bands like Being As An Ocean. Each one of its tracks welcomes the listener into a tireless frenzy of angst.

The EP opens immediately with a head-bobbing chord progression that leads into a Tiny Moving Parts style elation. Don’t let the comparisons fool you though, Doing Better brings a fresh energy that is more respectful of its influences than it is derivative. The second track “Skin Tight” is a two-minute octane fest that lets up only briefly before delving back into a whirlwind of angst. The last track includes bubbly dance riffs that interject themselves seamlessly into the flurry of screams.

Weaknesses arise most prominently in song structure and clean vocals. While I personally find DelValle’s delivery genuine and endearing it is understandably an acquired taste. That is to say nothing of his screams though, which are the unbridled force of the entire EP. Either way his vocals serve much better than the guest spot on the third song “Reach”. A clichéd Jonny Craig-esque melody that falls off key only hurts the otherwise interesting song. The second feature, which appears on the last song “Lion Eyed”, is a rap verse that fairs much better. Jack Berry of Cook Thugless is unbelievably comfortable over the bridge, providing much needed to depth to finish out the record. Although most of the songs follow a uniform verse-chorus-bridge format, there are little gem riffs hidden about them.

No Sleep sounds exactly like its name suggests. A state of mind somewhere in between genuine aggression and nervous pleasure, often drifting back and forth, but never settling on either. Doing Better brings pure post-hardcore for the insomniac side of the brain.

Doing Better: No Sleep
David Barnes
May 22, 2017
5.5/10
Doing Better | Independent
5.5 Overall Score
Doing Better - No Sleep

Doing Better | Independent

Being As An Oceancook thuglessDoing BetterHamilton TownshipJonny CraiglocalNew Jerseyno sleeppost-hardcoreTiny Moving PartsTouche Amore
Share Tweet

David Barnes

You Might Also Like

  • Gallery

    Wet Pours Their Heart into DC Performance

  • Gallery

    Maggie Rogers Leaves the Light on at Her Hometown Show in Washington DC

  • Gallery

    COIN Connect With Fans At DC Show

No Comments

Share Your Thoughts With Us! Cancel reply

Music

  • An Absurd World: Bright Eyes and Meaning of Our Own Making

    September 11, 2020
  • Living Through the Emotion Revolution

    August 27, 2020
  • Folklore Proves That Taylor Swift Has Always Been This Good

    August 24, 2020
  • Daddy’s Beemer Ain’t Scared of Nothin’

    July 22, 2020
  • Previewing the Rest of 2020 in Album Releases

    July 12, 2020

Film

  • Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak Becomes an Eerie Reality as the Coronavirus Spreads

    April 2, 2020
  • Joe Pera Talks with You Is the Perfect Medicine in a Divided Time

    March 12, 2020
  • Everything Is Fine, and Other Takeaways from The Good Place

    February 26, 2020
  • Why I Picked Parasite to Win Best Picture (and Why I Was Right)

    February 11, 2020
  • Let’s Discuss This Year’s Academy Awards Nominations

    January 17, 2020

Photos

  • Kansas City Fell For White Reaper This Valentine’s Season

    February 23, 2020
  • Thrice Perseveres to Put on Anniversary Show in Chicago

    February 10, 2020
  • Transcending with Illenium

    November 26, 2019
  • KC Bundled Up for Sweater Weather with The Neighbourhood

    November 20, 2019
  • Dreaming of a Plain White T’s Christmas

    November 19, 2019
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Press Kit

Subscribe & Follow

Follow @mindequalsblown
Follow on Instagram
Follow on rss
© 2016 Mind Equals Blown All rights reserved.

© 2013 Solo Pine Designs, Inc. All rights reserved.