“Dandelion,” the second full-length EP from indie rock band The Greeting Committee, comes three years after their debut and a few scattered EPs and singles.
The most significant question mark for this project was whether or not the band could pull together a cohesive experience and concept from beginning to end.
Apart from some minor oddities and unnecessary detours, the album does manage to pull together a pleasurable experience.
“Dandelion” heavily features themes of insecurity and feeling lost in life, caught up in the sadness after a breakup. The lyrics paint a picture of extreme depression, with some songs even delving into thoughts of suicide.
Eventually, the album does give the listener a sense of relief and closure, healing and moving on as the album progresses, culminating in the final track, “Ten.”
The opening track, “Can I Leave Me Too?” features driving drums and acoustic instrumentation. The instrumental is fuzzy, and the vocals feature a tinny quality that communicates a sense of disorientation.
The lyrics on this track directly confront the breakup dealt with throughout the album. The repeated begging of vocalist Addie Sartino to follow this former partner is a dejected and striking introduction to the album.
“Float Away” follows the opening track and details the unhealthy relationship. Featuring a droning guitar line and heavy reverb on vocals, thematically, the instrumental reflects the aimlessness of the singer.
Pleasant strings are placed at several points throughout the song and give much-needed relief to the audience. This track also features the first glimpse at the suicidal ideation found throughout the album.
“Bird Hall” may be the most melancholic the album gets and notably is a rare moment of the instrumental being clear and sharp.
An intimate moment of self-reflection in the tracklist, “Bird Hall,” features acoustic instrumentation and soft vocals. Immediately following this is the energetic “Make Out” and returning to fuzzier instrumentation.
The energetic feeling of the song is a welcome addition to the album, with the driving instrumental bringing life to the album for the first time.
“Ada” is an oddity in the tracklist, featuring an electronic droning in the instrumental. It transitions into more of a driving rhythm. However, it succeeds less at being energetic or as intimate as previous tracks.
While it may not be poorly constructed or played, it doesn’t add anything to the album’s themes. Ultimately “Ada” is an unnecessary diversion on an already tight tracklist.
The final track, “Ten,” is easily the most upbeat on the album. A piano ballad featuring beautiful vocals, the lyrics reflect the speaker’s freedom. Even the short length of the track goes a long way to subtly communicate that closure has been found, and that healing has begun.
Despite the occasional stumble, “Dandelion” pulls together a solid narrative and story. The Greeting Committee manages to juggle multiple themes very well throughout the tracks in an intimate and personal way.
