“Nothing But Our Love”
from the EP Horse Power
2010
iTunes
Sometimes it seems like the last thing the music-listening public needs is another indie duo with a quirky name that weaves guitar chords, synthesizer lines and programmed drumbeats around soaring falsetto harmonies. Thankfully, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.’s debut release, Horse Power EP, not only manages to utilize those textures in tightly constructed and well-written songs, but is also executed in a refreshingly sweet and unironic way. The three original songs radiate upbeat enthusiasm rather than the dry cynicism that pervades the work of many of their contemporaries. “Nothing But Our Love” stands out as the album highlight with its beautifully layered production, sentimental delivery, and serenely optimistic atmosphere.
The group, which is comprised of Josh Epstein and Daniel Zott, demonstrates an awareness of its heritage with the Jackson 5-esque grooves on “Vocal Chords” and the well-chosen and well-executed cover of the Beach Boys’ dreamy classic “God Only Knows.” Epstein and Zott wisely don’t diverge much from the original version, instead choosing to pare down to just a jazzy guitar and some vocals for the beginning of the tune and then adding instruments as the song’s power grows. Despite the fact that this debut comes from a hip band with an ironic name — seriously, is Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. the last band name left? — you will find yourself smiling when it comes to a close, and you can’t really argue against results like that.