There’s a couple of things to debate here before we get to the point. First, when is an EP not an EP and an album? “What I Get For Loving You” is eight tracks and is officially an EP. I’ll leave that one with you.
Second – this one is more important – when does country end and pop music start? Truth is I don’t know, but the thing is that Seaforth tread the line as closely as anyone.
Their third album/EP (whatever!) doesn’t hold too many surprises, if you heard the other couple you know what the duo do. Polished, shining pop songs. “Queen Of Daytona Beach” is a shining example. It’s a hook wrapped around a verse. And a solo that slays. It features rapper Sean Kingston for some real crossover sizzle. It sounds like a million dollars.
The thing is, of course that they’d be Australian Dollars. However American, work like “Palm Of Your Hand” sounds (these boys have toured with Mitchell Tenpenny and it kind of makes sense) they are very much from Sydney. They wish they weren’t, it sounds like. “Breakups” – if it were a Chase Rice song – would have been number one for about 37 weeks on the country charts. Maybe that’s where they’re heading too?
“Good Beer” is a damn good time. Jason Aldean flavours (and kudos for rhyming “Tesla” with “impress ya”. Jordan Davis (a country pop star in his own right) joins in the hoedown and its hard to resist this.
Pretty much anywhere on this record, you’ll find something you could attach the phrase “hard to resist this” to. “Used To It” sounds like it’s the most contented any song has ever been, and it doesn’t matter whether you’ve heard it before. There’ll be people falling in love to this and who want to hear it again.
There’s a breakup song. “Dr Phil” takes a unique approach to getting over her, as well. And there’s as much effect on the vocals and as many dance tinges to the music to suggest Justin Timberlake (I haven’t got any contemporary pop references, deal with it!). The piano tones of “What I Get For Loving You” seem to be the other side of the same coin. Maybe the same girl, who knows? It’s anyone. These sounds are generic enough to be universal. Seaforth are the masters of the three minute country pop song, but moreover, they are the masters of making you feel good – witness “Magic” as your proof.
Which is why neither of those questions I posed at the start matter ultimately. “What I Get For Loving You” is everything Seaforth wanted it to be. And pop? It’s short for popular anyway, right?
Rating 7.5/10
