The New Respects – Here Comes Trouble

Label: Credential

Formats: LP, MP3

Release date: May 5, 2017

“Fresh.” That’s the first word that comes to mind when describing The New Respects and their debut EP Here Comes Trouble. Their sound is crisp and clean, while simultaneously soulful and rock infused. The group is a family unit from Tennessee with twin sisters Zandy and Alexis Fitzgerald on guitar and bass respectively, brother Darius on drums and cousin Jasmine Mullen (daughter of gospel singer Nicole C. Mullen) on vocals. On their 5 song EP the band gives a glimpse at what they are all about with a strong showing on the musical front as well as the topics their songs cover.

The EP begins with the track “Money,” which serves as an excellent album opener and plays with the impact of wealth. The band sounds particularly tight here and Mullen’s vocals are quite impressive. On “Frightening Lightning” the rhythm section really shines, making the rocked out track still sound quite danceable. “Come As You Are” serves as the EP’s lone ballad and sounds vaguely reminiscent of something you might hear from the Alabama Shakes or The Black Keys. The theme for the track centers around inclusion in a way that makes a point without seeming overtly political. “Trouble” wraps up the EP with lyrics that question if the straight and narrow is the right path, “I’ve tried livin life right, don’t know if I wanna do it anymore / ‘cause I’ve lived a pretty good life / but trouble keeps on knocking at my door.” Mullen’s soulful voice authentically sells this as a thought she is actually pondering, so it is not just a song about youthful angst.

Here Comes Trouble is a fantastic debut from a band I am sure we will be hearing more from in the coming years, which is a very, very good thing.

Reviewed by Levon Williams