Hailing from Worcester, Massachusetts, Hedge play pop-punk taking cues from bands like Hüsker Dü, Superchunk, and The Lemonheads. Their 2024 debut album, `Better Days`, delivered eleven speedy power-pop songs built on loud, distorted guitars, and irresistibly catchy vocal melodies, quickly earning praise from critics and fans alike. The recently released EP `Freeze Frame High Five` retains that mantra of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” blasting through five originals and a Guided By Voices cover in under ten minutes.
This six tracker opens with lead single `Hey Dude` which is songwriter Christopher Chaisson’s ode to Dinosaur Jr., his favourite band since age eight, reflecting on his lifelong obsession with distortion and melody thanks to a Dad who cranked Boston-area college radio at an early age. It`s a delightfully melodic headrush of a song and over far too soon. A cracking introduction for me to this trio. There`s a kind of rolling vibe to `Ice Rink` which appears to be a kind of fanciful ambition to own a skating rink, ice resurfacing machine and learn to skate. A daydream that masks the day to day grind of a mundane job.
The wonderfully titled `Little Joey and the Kangaroos` races along as if it`s life depended on it and may be a nod to the children’s books regarding the exploits of this thrill-seeking buck. We enjoy a similar vibe with `Hit The Road` which seems to be reflecting on a journey without actually participating.
`Snapple Cap` may be about the famous metal caps that featured “Real Facts” on the inside and have become collector’s items, with older, rarer caps selling for a small fortune. Many of the facts while entertaining, are outdated, exaggerated, or inaccurate. There`s a real nostalgic feel to this brief observational musing. This extended play closes out with `My Valuable Hunting Knife` an almost unrecognisable re-imagining of a Guided By Voices track from over thirty years ago. The title may conjure up some depressing thoughts of field dressing, skinning, and processing game animals but it may be a metaphor on a complete change of lifestyle and reverting to a simpler way of life
There`s much to enjoy on `Freeze Frame High Five` and running at less than ten minutes, it`s worth setting an hour aside, hit the repeat and allow it to enter your subconscious, you`ll be singing stuff like “Hey Dude, Hey Man” or “Out to the ice” for the rest of the day, I can assure you.
A kind of mix of Hüsker Dü and The Lemonheads for Gen Alpha.
Rating 8.5/10
