Listening to the new Settle for Less album, Contemporary, is like taking a moonlit drive through sharp lead guitars and slurry vocals. Hailing from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Settle for Less’s grungy sound strays from other bands poppier, chord-driven melodies with prickly licks and prominent lead guitar melodies. They balance their muddy sound with occasional screeching vocals and aggressive choruses. Don’t expect to sit still while listening to Contemporary. They merge the emotion of Nirvana with melodies from Matchbook Romance and A Static Lullaby, bringing together a blend of musical passion and abrasive lyrics into their darkly poppy tunes.

The opener, “Diffident Man,” starts the album off strong with relaxed vocals and a dizzying guitar melody. The sound mimics a faint Christopher Browder of Mansions until the bridge and chorus kick in, sending the melody into a grungy bounce. The song’s fun and spontaneous nature sets the tone for the rest of the album. The following track, “Medicine,” is just as unpredictable. It begins in a fast-paced aggression of power chords and one-two drumbeats before the song slows to a turtle’s pace. The melody swings at the bridge till it sharpens again. The songs are hard to follow along, but the melodies are so good it simply flows.

“Brandywoods” is the most upbeat song on the album. The guitars’ choppy tones fall great with the raspy vocals that soar through the entire song. It’s the most melodically consistent track off the record. The lead guitars also complement the heavy rhythm with rapid-fire finger tapping. The EP briefly slows down again for the intro to “Bridesburg” but picks back up by the first verse. The song ends in a small chant and tribal-like drumming. “Alden Park” is another highlight of Contemporary. The song starts with blaring finger tapping and a head-pounding rhythm, mainting this intensity through the song’s end. The last track, “Greetings,” is the most poised song on the record. But it has nothing to do with it being the “lightest” song off the EP (and that’s not saying much, these guys rock out). The vocals are more intact with the melody and the guitars notes sound more articulated and pre-meditated. They even add a brief acoustic bridge for a more rustic feel.

Settle for Less manage to take many styles and sounds, and combine them to make a solid album with feeling and thoughtfulness. Although it’s only an EP, every track sounds worthy of being on a full-length. There’s no fillers or wasted time on this CD. Each track makes an effort towards being what it stands for—ironically, that’s being Contemporary.

★★★★ ☆

*This review was composed by Jose Terrero