EP REVIEW: Ali Slater - "LUS!D"
“There is something for everyone in Ali Slater’s genre fluid LUS!D EP”
by Jesse Smith
Earlier this year I reviewed some singles of this Los Angeles based solo artist Ali Slater and the singles that were released. I heard the progression in songs as they came out, so I couldn’t wait to hear what she had in store for the full EP! Behold, I was not disappointed and even though I was already a fan of the last songs, I was pleasantly surprised with this EP. To begin, I can’t put this into a genre so bare with me. The first review I did, I compared her and the feel to Christina Agulara but more emo and that is pretty true! It is also a mix of modern pop/punk (different than pop punk). LUS!D is full of life and energy, and is 17 minutes of easily digestible tracks.
One by one, the track listing has a flow so listening in order really is a whole experience and to be honest is the way I like to listen to new releases. Starting off strong with “Without You” which was the first song I ever heard from Ali. This is the one that gives big time burlesque Christina Agulara vibes. Opening the album with a slower swing and letting Ali’s beautifully powerful voice shine will set the tone for the whole EP. Yet at the same time, leaving room to catch the listener off guard with tracks like other single “Over It” which features former Falling In Reverse guitarist Jacky Vincent, which also happens to be next in the track listing! Ramping up the tempo and serving you a powerful pop rock jam with a pretty sick guitar solo via Vincent.
These are songs we have heard before and even though they are vastly different, the songs we haven’t heard yet really are the ones that bring everything together like the glue of the album. The middle track “Ring Shopping” is a slower, more straightforward song that gives Ali the ability to really let loose. Even when we hear the two slower songs together, they still do not have the same vibe other than Ali absolutely murdering on vocals. She ends the EP with the title track “LUS!D” which is just the final parting gift, something to remember me by. Inverting the normal “start fast/end slower” approach on this EP really opens the door for possibilities while going through the songs and leaving you wanting to hear me. Almost like a show leaving you on a cliffhanger, which is right up Ali’s lane since she is known to incorporate theatrical influences into her music.
LUS!D is truly a well written piece of art that can cater to almost any listener. You will find a song that you can jam to or vibe out to. You can tell that hard work and endless hours of thought and planning went into writing and execution of this EP. With such a powerful voice, choosing a non-singer to feature was a really cool and unique choice and made the focus stay on her, which it should be. Such a solid first release and truthfully more bands should really pay attention to how she is really taking the artistic approach to everything surrounding this release. Ali Slater is truthfully one of the top female vocalists in the game and her female empowerment song topics and lyrically content come off more anthemic and authentic instead of cheesy and cliche. This is going to be top 10 maybe even top 5 EP’s of 2022.