Music Review – Save Ends, “Warm Hearts, Cold Hands”

Artist: Save Ends
Album: Warm Hearts, Cold Hands
Label: Tiny Engines
Release Date: Out Now – Vinyl / Digital
RIYL: The Get Up Kids, The Anniversary, Farewell Continental, Lemuria, Slingshot Dakota
★★★★☆

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Boston’s Save Ends is a band that has consistently improved with each release. I first discovered the band in 2010 with their EP Ten or Better. It was rough around the edges, but I could tell after the first couple of songs that this band had potential. In 2012, they blew me away with their EP Strength vs Will. The song writing was dialed in, more focused and I loved the vocal melodies traded between the sweet, airy voice of Christine Atturio (guitar, vocals) and the harsher voice of Brendan Cahill (keyboard, vocals). These two EPs were mere stepping stones to their new fantastic full-length Warm Hearts, Cold Hands by blending the energy of Ten or Better with the softer and catchier melodies of Strength vs Will. One of my favorite examples of this is the song “A Life They Wrote”

Warm Hearts, Cold Hands takes the groundwork laid by their previous EPs and improves their craft in every way. As someone who particularly connects with vocal melodies, I absolutely love the combination of Christine and Brendan’s vocals here. The sweet and sour elements of their vocals have never sounded better and the choruses are even more memorable. Musically the album has the unbridled energy and passion of Ten or Better combined with the sweetness, heart, and maturity of Strength vs Will. Needless to say, Save Ends have exceeded all expectations with this album.

If you were obsessed with bands like The Get Up Kids, Brandtson and The Anniversary like I was, then you’ll instantly love this band and this record. But even on their own terms, you can’t deny the raw energy, fantastic vocal harmonies and catchy songwriting Save Ends brings to the table. Warm Hearts, Cold Hands can gladly share my LP crate with The Get Up Kids‘ Something To Write Home About and The Anniversary‘s Designing a Nervous Breakdown. Recommended.