Ed Tang has all the right ingredients for a fantastic album: raspy voice, just the right mix of distortion and acoustic guitars, and some choice literary references (Catch-22 and Death of a Salesman are two of my favorite 20th century works. How’d ya know, Ed?) Fellow Jersey natives Bruce Springsteen and Brian Fallon (the Gaslight Anthem) are clearly influences on Tang’s music.
This is Tang and the chops’ first EP and it’s a promising start to be sure. However, the above list doesn’t necessarily make for a fantastic album (though goodness knows it helps.) The Chops are missing a certain urgency that’s much more tangible in their heroes’ work. (A quick listen of Tang’s previous album has that quality. Perhaps this EP is just overproduced.) But even with that, this EP is worth your time. I’m confident we’ll see (and hear) great things as the band continues to develop its voice. Ed Tang and the Chops are on the edge of greatness, so get in on the ground floor while you can.