An emotive yet harmonious rock/pop intertwining impresses on Four Orphans, the upcoming EP from Brian Halloran. Out on December 20th, the release proudly wears a ’90s alt pop/rock inspiration on its sleeves; Halloran cites influences like Counting Crows, R.E.M., and Gin Blossoms — melding these warming doses of familiarity with a personable, unique singer/songwriter immersion.
All four tracks on the EP excel with their heartfelt songwriting and satiating structural rises, and “Spin My Wheels” is particularly exemplary of Halloran’s strengths. “Strip all my paint, expose my hide,” his vocals convey a sense of vulnerability initially. Glistening acoustic strums envelop into a bouncy bass line, in addition to magnetic piano and organ work from TJ Viola. Bursting electric guitar past the two-minute turn cements the production’s strong replay-inducing temptations. Lyrically, the track captures the cyclical struggle of self-doubt and resilience, blending introspection with a touch of quiet optimism.
Another highlight, “For a Song” is an upbeat, hooky success — noted by Halloran as being heavily inspired by Semisonic frontman Dan Wilson, one of his favorite songwriters. Kacie Sky’s backing vocals and Zack Zaro’s lead guitar add to the tightly infectious mix. “I don’t wanna beat around it,” Halloran sings with momentum, culminating in a fantastic title-referencing central hook.
Also including the enjoyable unrequited love ode “Your Satellite” and introspective “The Only Thing Keeping Me Down,” which explores personal responsibility in its themes, Four Orphans is a resonating, 4-for-4 success from Brian Halloran. We’re excited for his upcoming full-length album, too.
