Rating: Dig It!

Music can be taken very seriously. When artists put their hearts and souls into the music they create, it seems disrespectful to take it as anything but serious. But what happens when the artist’s soul is playful and full of youth? We get Oregon-based W.H. Walker’s “Suds,” an EP that exudes happiness and embodies the spirit of doo-wop pop.

As soon as you slip “Suds” into the stereo, your ears become overloaded with a sense of nostalgia. The band has a sound that is very similar to feelgood groups like the Beach Boys and is reminiscent of bathing in the summer’s carefree light. The title track, “Suds,” is pop in its purest form. It’s armed with an infectious beat and a chorus to brighten up any smile: “There better be suds, all over me/ Suds, I wanna be clean!” While “Suds” is more poporiented, “Saying Every Secret” has a more exotic sound, further enhanced by the “na-na”s and “ooh”s flooding the melody.

The second half of the EP is more rock influenced, but still manages to keep the pop elements from the first half. “The Untold Death of Grady Jones” exemplifies the band’s storytelling capability and is very similar to the 1974 hit “Billy Don’t Be a Hero” by Paper Lace. The final track, “Second Hand Store,” is just as poppy as the title track and ends the album on a very positive note.

“Suds” is exactly what it tries to be — fun, free and exciting. With a listen of each song, W.H. Walker’s spirit of happiness is further exposed, adding an interpersonal feel to the EP. If the rain has you gloomy or the snow has you cold, give “Suds” a listen and you’re guaranteed to have a good time in whatever situation you may be in.