Ambulance LTD - New English EP

Ambulance has the honor of being one of the best albums I have come across since I got this job reviewing albums. Their debut, LP, was an outstanding blend of mellow and melodic rock from a New York band whose hype was actually justified. So I was quick to be skeptical of this EP, as I felt surely it was a rushed product to keep them in the spotlight amidst pre-production of their sophomore album, but this is hardly a group of outcasts and bottom dwelling tracks. An equal mix of new songs, new versions, and new American releases, this is quite a tasty appetizer of what the band has in store. The EP’s title track opens the disc as an upbeat and soulful piece worthy of a full album slot. Next up, the band throws quite a curve ball with the Motown lounge song “Arbuckle’s Swan Song,” which is very different from the bands usual sound, but it’s also a track that grows on you very quickly. The album's most remarkable cut comes in the form of an amazingly live cover of Pink Floyd’s “Fearless,” which sounds like it was recorded in a studio with premiere production. The song has skyrocketed Ambulance up my chart of bands I have to see live because if their sound on this song is any indication, they are astonishing live. “Heavy Lifting” (my favorite track of LP) makes an appearance in a lovely stripped down demo version. The catchiest song of their catalogue is accompanied by a new contender in “Country Gentleman.” Both songs serve to remind us that the band could, at any minute, lose the mellowness and just turn the amps up a little to make some blistering up tempo rockers. A techno/electronic oriented version of “Sugar Pill” actually made me appreciate the LP version more, as the new take really helps to emphasize the beauty of the track. Rounding out the release is the inclusion of “Straight A’s,” the hidden track from the British LP release, which I wish had made the American version. Balanced with a mix of new and old, this disc is a nice sampling of where the band has been, where it is, and where it is going. If their sophomore release meets the bar set so far, then I think we will all be in for one of the best records of the year. [www.ambulancenyc.com]