2020 has not been the best of years for the average music fan, with concerts and the like generally taking a backseat as we all figure out how to navigate this strange new world. Fans of LA-based indie rockers The Wrecks have been luckier than most, however. The band released their debut album, Infinitely Ordinary, back in May, and now a brand new EP is on the horizon too. 

Originally slated to be the new additions for the deluxe version of their debut album, these tracks now form Static, which is due for release on Friday, December 18. As frontman Nick Anderson explained, “oftentimes deluxe tracks get snubbed a bit, and we didn’t want that to happen to these songs. So we decided to give them their own release and an opportunity to reach more people.” What we get instead is a handful of brand new tracks, in a bitesize format, making for the perfect holiday gift to the band’s dedicated fanbase. 

The EP opens the floor with its titular track, which is immediately recognizable as a song by The Wrecks. Their sound and style are distinctly them, and as they’ve built up a following over the short time they’ve been a band, they’ve also proved themselves to be a unique asset to the scene. This charming track is an excellent addition to the band’s discography, waxing poetic about the trials and tribulations of modern love. 

‘I Hope It’s Cold In New York’ follows in the same vein, offering a melodic version of events that most young people can relate to. Its simple chorus, in its beginning, will play at the heartstrings of listeners, but the repeating lyrics of, “I feel much better, I feel much better now,” will hopefully be inspiring to anyone who needs it. Considering current events, this track proves to be one of life’s small pleasures, convincing us that maybe it’s not all bad. 

The penultimate track, ‘Good For Nothing’, carries on with the high-energy dynamic — slow and steady are, for the most part, not words in The Wrecks’ vocabulary — and by this point, it’s safe to say that this record is free from the dreaded filler. It’s a wonder why this material was destined to become deluxe edition bonus tracks; every song offers something that makes it sparkle. In the case of ‘Good For Nothing’, it has to be the catchy, larger-than-life chorus that was just made for being played live. …hopefully, that’s something we can experience sooner rather than later!

Rounding off with ‘Try To Remember’, The Wrecks draw into a gentler territory, which not only shows their versatility but gives the record its perfect closer when it sets itself apart from the rest of the EP. It’s been argued before that having the one “slow song” on a record is a gimmick, but even if this is the case, the final track on Static will have you forgetting all about that as it sticks in your mind. 

All in all, this is a fantastic offering from The Wrecks’ camp, coming at just the right time to whet their fans’ appetite. Not only will it do that, but it has all the potential to introduce the band to a broader audience, just as they wish.