May 24th, 2012 
Grace Duffy 
Artist: Kyoto Drive
Album: The Approach
Genre: Rock
Label: I Am Mighty Records
Birmingham four-piece Kyoto Drive certainly sound earnest and have launched themselves into their debut EP with gusto. Unfortunately however, there’s a little too much of the obvious to The Approach, a likeable but jaded foray into the much-vaunted pop rock genre. It’s good but not outstanding, and in a scene that’s relatively saturated with sound-a-likes it’s difficult to isolate anything here that lets them stand out. The band knows how to put together a moderately engaging track but this notwithstanding, there’s a persistently underdeveloped and underwhelming aspect to their music and it lacks a certain sparkle or shine.
The EP opens with a short instrumental entitled “Receive This Little Breath,” apparently taken from a war poem. Its dulcet piano and ambitious programming probably isn’t quite the send-off the protagonist of said poem was looking for, but this is a decent opener. It can’t escape its confines and sounds a little too artificial, but it has an airy tone that implies much warmth lies ahead. “Holiday” is very concerted and driven and yet this works against it – there’s a presence or charisma lacking next to the guitars, and this gives the song an undernourished vibe. It has all the ingredients to be exciting, yet it never quite musters it. “So Much Alive” is, happily, more vigorous. The rhythm is bouncier and there’s more of a thrill to it, though the guitars are a little too emphatic and lack balance or melody. The track has its charms but there’s not enough to really absorb the listener. It almost seems fatigued in that its sound is too reminiscent of too many other bands, and it never quite convinces on its own. Similarly, “Faking Laughs for Photos” is cheerful and overbearing, particularly during the chorus, but too bland and parochial to excite much appeal.
“Breathe” is the first track to show real potential. It’s poppy and undemanding, but catchy – the first track to really grab interest. The upsurge in tempo and key at the end is slightly unnerving but this aside, the song has the spark and volume the others seem to be missing. It’s a solitary venture however – “Chapters” is of the same ilk as the earlier songs; a perfectly satisfying track that fills a gap but is neither potent nor memorable. There are some engaging moments but for a song with such concerted intentions there’s hardly anything here to hold one’s attention. The problem could be with the vocals, as throughout the EP it seems that a more exhilarating presence could add depth and character and lift the music from its tawdry origins. It all feels quite amateurish and needs to discover something more individual to really stand out. “You Never Knew” is a languid, loving piece with a more tender musical approach. The keys and guitar work are quite intricate here, which is commendable, and the EP finally finds some momentum in the latter stages of this song. However, it’s no sooner discovered than the band drowns it in slightly morose, repetitious verses that afford The Approach a sappy and clamorous ending.
Kyoto Drive nails the basics on this release but is at pains to illustrate why we should care too much. It is deserving of an audience, but without more effort and innovation it won’t be a very wide one. The Approach is a good effort, but a lot more work is needed to excel.
SCORE: 6/10
Review written by Grace Duffy
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