I’m Ready
This is easily my favorite song on this EP. It’s one that sounds like it would fit perfectly on a regular album, and if it was a public release, I think it’d do well with general audiences. The driving rhythm fits perfectly with the anticipatory feeling of being ready to take the next step. Also, in general, I’m a sucker for a good piano-driven song. (Pun intended, always.) Even the verses progress from the first stage of questioning change (“I’m walking down the thin red line, if I cross the middle, I die just a little, every time”), to the hope that change can bring (“I’m moving toward the last sunrise, hoping the night brings all that the day dreams advertise”). In the choruses, he’s constantly struggling with the disjointed feeling of “I cannot leave, but I cannot stay”, but by the time he crosses the bridge (yes, another pun), he’s made his decision (“I know I can’t stay here another day”) and takes the first new steps with the final verse (“If the horizon is more than a distant line, I don’t want to believe it until I see it with my naked eye”).
Well done, all around. Five stars. Bonus points for a nod to “Down”, intentional or not, with the way they harmonically repeat the word in the chorus.
Favorite Lyric: “Little bit of courage so I can discourage the doubt within.”
EP Ranking: 1st Place
The Weight of Emotion
Honestly, I feel like “The Weight of Emotion” is a Zac ballad version of “I’m Ready”. In both instances, the main character is in a painful place, ready to make changes despite the fact that process will be also be painful. The melody of the song does an excellent job of creating the physical pull of emotions, and I love the waltziness of the song as that’s not something we get too often in the Hanson world.
As a side note, I couldn’t help but notice all the references to water in the lyrics “you can’t wash it from your face”, “shower your face with tears”, and “only a drop in the ocean”. I’ve noticed over the years that a lot of Zac songs have water references… maybe someday I’ll be able to moor the lyric boat, but today is not that day.
Favorite Lyric: “Love more than you love yourself.”
EP Ranking: 4th Place
A Life Without You
If you don’t already know, the piano music playing in the background of the Bali scene in Tulsa, Tokyo, and the Middle of Nowhere is “A Life Without You”. I remember my friend and I loved the music, so while I do wish we had a brand new Isaac song on this EP instead, I’m glad it finally has a home… even if it’s on guitar instead. If you’ve ever heard this live, you’ve probably heard the story that this song is a follow-up to “More Than Anything”, and they do sound similar. However, I think it actually sounds more like “Surely As The Sun”.
Favorite Lyric: Honestly, I don’t have one, but Isaac’s voice is like a buttery avocado, so points for that.
EP Ranking: 5th Place
For You
I like that this doesn’t sound like the typical Hanson love song, and when watching the EP documentary, Taylor suggested that it could be about more than just romantic love. I love the concept of thinking something is too good to be true and finally decided that no, “something this good somehow has to be true”. My favorite part of the song is easily the little scoodly bop during the line “leaving your solace out to the fray”.
Favorite Lyric: “I’m gaining your heart but I’m giving you mine.”
EP Ranking: 2nd Place
Where You Come From
This is by far the catchiest song on the EP, and I would rank it higher if there was a little less falsetto and an extra verse or bridge. But, it’s a lot of fun, especially live, and will make a good song to add to the end of a road trip. I do find some irony in Zac writing a song about how he wants to go home after also writing “I Don’t Want To Go Home”. That said, as someone who lives far away from “that place where (I) come from”, this song makes me think of Michigan while “I Don’t Want To Go Home” makes me think of my current state of Tennessee. In the EP documentary Zac said this was essentially tongue-in-cheek, you know, that place you come from, but some of us do need the distinction between more than one home.
Favorite Lyric: “If you find that you’re at the end of your rope, know there’s always somewhere left you can find some hope.”
EP Ranking: 3rd Place
Overall Impressions
This is not my favorite EP, and it took some time to grow on me. But, it’s certainly not my least favorite EP either. There’s a few songs here that I hope get played live once in awhile. I love that this is a bit more acoustic, and now I get the Ambient theme. I was a little worried we’d end up with some weird experimental elevator muzak EP, so I’m happy that’s not the case.
Scream And Be Frees 