The Tins’ “Young Blame” EP has legs, but where will they run to?

by Scott Wilson

The Tins is a band of practicality. In their bio you can read that they live and rehearse in a relatively inexpensive self-renovated loft in Buffalo, New York; their songs are poppy, mellow, and at around three minutes each they’re radio friendly; and there is not a single odious or complaint-worthy riff on the entire Young Blame EP. The Tins are what they advertise to be: an indie pop band with good songs. This review has the potential to be very boring, but please read on.

Composed of three guys, all graduates of Binghamton University, Michael Santillo (vocals and keyboard), David Muntner (Drums), and Adam Putzer (Guitar and vocals), The Tins have had one full-length album that came out in 2012 and was produced by the guy who also produces Modest Mouse. They sound kind of like The Kinks but heavier. Thanks to the keyboard and modern electronic enhancement, they have a rich sound backdrop without any of the instruments fighting over each other or over the singing. The lyrics are easy to make out and are concerned with breakups and love, mushy things, etc. To that end they do a very good job. Though a relatively young band, they have the artistic sensibility and skills of musicians who’ve done this a few times before. There are no excessive solos, no circle-jerky breakdowns, and each member has a noticeable and equal musical presence.

But if we’re going to pick a few nits, The Tins are not perfect. I listened to the four-song EP start to finish several times through and each time my attention would migrate after about minute one on the second track. It would come back for the first minute of the next song, and then go away again. It didn’t matter what order I played the songs in, but if I listened to the song as a single, like say in a mixed tape, I could keep attention for the whole thing. This is a roundabout way of saying Young Blame –as an album– has a predictable rhythm. The songs are all singles, they don’t play well together because they’re all more or less about the same thing (mushy stuff) and they each follow a sing-play-sing-repeat format. In the first minute I can foresee how the rest of the song will go, so the other two minutes are just fulfilling the prophecy.

As I said before, I listened to this EP on repeat several times, not just because I wasn’t paying attention but because I really liked the music. The lyrics however I struggle with. Remember how I said The Tins sound kind of like a heavier The Kinks? Well they do if you speak another language and can’t understand the words. Because while The Kinks’s lyrics are rich with irony and commentary and clever hidden messages, The Tins’ lyrics are poppy and less substantial.  What I’m wanting is something to listen for- like a story or a message, a reward for paying attention.

Obviously, what do I know about making an EP? Not much, and I’m not trying to be cruel but the sentiment I’m looking for is said by the band itself in the song “They Aren’t Evil”: “We’ve got the stuff to run run run, it’s a shame but you know it’s just the same.” What The Tins need to do is leave the practical Buffalo, NY loft behind and head to the crucible of a big-city market where they’ll be forced to dig deep within themselves and produce something riskier, something with more of an edge.

The Tins is a band that has all the pieces: instrument mastery, egalitarian member presence, an ear for catchy riffs and clever rhyme patterns, but they’ve got room to grow. Buy the Young Blame EP on July 29^th and see for yourself. It is worth its sticker price, I promise that much, and as the band matures over the years we’ll hopefully see the lyrical content and song design that can match their other talents.