OK, this is my thoughts about an EP release. I love the idea of releasing a few killer tracks. The EP becomes your business card when your looking for a club to play or your shopping for a record deal. Because the EP gets right to the point you provide the club owner or A&R representative with 3 or 4 GREAT songs. Most business people do not have the time to listen to more than 3-4 songs anyways so the EP is the ideal promotional vehicle. It also allows the band/artist to make a pristine recording because they are only paying for a few hours of studio time.

With that said, I expect an EP to be amazing like 'Seven Against Thebes' by Equilibrium, an EP that left me begging for more when the last track was finished. That was not the case with 'Theatre of the Distraught, a respectable offering but not what I have come to expect from EP's lately.

The 4 song EP starts off with a song that sounded like the band was warming up in different rooms or covering an early 70's Zappa tune before the song recovers with the near monotone vocals of Dan Greenwald. The song was some kind of "can't we all just get along" 60's number that had me flipping to track 2 by the 1 1/2 minute mark. Track 2 'Leave You with I Love You' at least finds the band starting off in the same key and on time. The early 60's era John Lennon vocals came across as very pleasing (even though they didn't double track the vocals and add a slap echo). The guitar solo's during the break could have used some work but I'll give them a pass because the song was pretty good.

All songs on the four song EP are written by Dan Greenwald and Glenn Owens. Both guys know how to write a potentially great song. The CD just lacks the ability to convey their musical vision because of Dan's annoying vocals. The musicianship was also below par with what I have come to expect from bands this day and age. Had the music been taken to some quality players to cover the songs I think the music would have been very enjoyable to listen to. As it stands, the 4 song EP was a struggle to get through.

Recorded at various locations at various times and enginered by a number of different people so I can't give blame or credit to any studio on this CD without taking up a paragraph just to mention all the names. The bottom line was that none of the engineers suggested that some of this material be done again to correct the flat vocals and the slightly off key harmonies nor did anyone suggest bringing in a quality guitarist to handle some of the solos. This alone could have given this EP the lift it needed yet nobody did anything about it. Studio engineers are like a vital member of the band member and they have to be willing to make the tuff calls and take charge. I did not get that impression with this EP.

I hate to give any artist a bad review. It's just not in my nature to do this. Once in a while something comes across my desk that makes me wonder why anyone would take this much time to make something that sounded this bad. One thing I will give credit for... The CD cover art was fantastic. Greenwald should stick to graphic design, he really did an impressive job.
Bottom Line- CD cover 4 1/2 stars...CD 2 stars.