In the pulsing heart of indie rock, a palpable revival shimmers through “The Drugs Are Working,” Hook’s potent three-track elixir that marries the angst-ridden electricity of ’90s rock with today’s crisp new-wave sensibility. Stripped to its very essence, this EP navigates the rough waters between life’s shadowed valleys and sun-kissed peaks.
Eoin O’Donnell’s voice cuts through each track like a beam refracted through murky water—clear, yet wavering with vulnerability—as it collides with Niamh Carmody’s basslines that weave stories on their own. Morgan O’Brien isn’t just keeping time on drums; he’s dictating the heartbeat of every emotion these songs dare to exhume.
From amplifiers buzzing like swarming bees to the gentle embrace of an acoustic serenade, Hook delivers music raw and unfiltered. It’s as direct as an eye contact challenge in crowded subway cars: The electric version imbues “The Drugs Are Working” with frenetic energy—a callout for anyone who ever needed noise to find clarity—while its acoustic twin opens up space for contemplation amidst our cluttered lives.
Listeners may catch echoes of Pavement or early Radiohead in these tracks—a compliment rather than accusation—as Hook captures similar vibrations but bends them into something genuinely candid. Love folds and unfolds brutally across melodic lines, not shy from admitting that even beauty can cut deep.
By plunging into those small moments often set aside—you know, where you realized your coffee tasted exceptionally good that Tuesday morning—the trio defines what makes us peculiarly human: our relentless search for positivity amongst day-to-day static. Endearing? Perhaps achingly so.
In brevity lies strength; barely spanning 14 minutes total duration doesn’t lessen “The Drugs Are Working” addictive nature—it beckons replays instead. Draped in simplicity without losing complexity gives listeners addictively humble anthems about today’s love-hate survival dance we all choreograph daily—one foot after another toward a semblance of joy brushed by shadows past.
And if music is indeed some magical compound affecting euphoric states, one must conclude—for now at least—that yes…the drugs are working beautifully.
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