The brainchild of Tim Lander (Transit) and Brad Wiseman (This Time Next Year), Misser is an energetic shock of bouncy rhythm and loopy lead licks. Recorded over the course of a year, their DIY EP, Problems. Problems. Problems, is a mash of their main bands with a melodic alt. rock twist. These two musicians are still fairly young and growing in the scene light, but Landers and Wiseman are steadily earning a solid reputation. The buzz behind their forthcoming albums can only gain the Misser side-project a following that is just as strong as their respective bands.

Although there are only three tracks, each song stands out for its own reason. Opener “Just Say It” is their best track: a passionate intro filled with slick lead guitar and the song title in a rebellious yell. The song’s funky bassline in the verses give the song a swinging melody that’s matched by the guitars hopping rhythm. The brief solo towards the end of the song is reminiscent of Third Eye Blind, a clear influence. The choppy rhythm with Lander’s yell ends the song on a high note, prepping the listener for the next song. “She Didn’t Turn Out To Be That Cool” opens with a lead lick similar to the last track. But this song is more focused on the rhythm and the vocals. Wiseman and Lander’s vocals are lively and aggressive. For usually taking the backseat on vocals, they do a great job singing on this EP. Their last song, “Hating,” is a slower song with subtle rhythm and droning vocals—that’s not to say the vocals are bad, just very relaxed. The chant, “I’ll keep walking around this town with my heart on my sleeve,” is sung repeatedly and eventually becomes infectious. The song ends abruptly, leaving the listener wanting more. Unfortunately, for now, it’s all we’ve got.

For a couple of overworked musicians, Misser sounds fairly flawless. The songs are catchy and full of emotion without going overboard. Given the talent these musicians have, they were successful in making good songs that are fun to listen to. That’s all we can really ask of them for this side-project.

★★★★☆

*This review was composed by Jose Terrero