Why Another create a mind bending, introspective, and surprisingly motivational sonic experience with their latest EP release “The Color is Off” (out now). The New York based alt-rock group aim to create a record that speaks to the act of trying to figure life out while living it. Intentionally constructed with tracks written across the band’s career (in fact, the title track is one of their oldest songs), the album is full of existential questions from a variety of different perspectives, tackled from a variety of different angles. Each track carrying it’s own unique themes, influences, sound, yet all tying together in a way carries a sound that’s unmistakably Why Another. A sound that fans of Radiohead, Muse, and Arctic Monkeys will feel right at home with.

The EP opens with the minimalistic electronic loop and vocal lines of “Life Distraction”. At first sounding like it will be another LCD Soundsystem or more broadly dance punk copycat, the track slowly builds until shimmering drums bring up the energy of the track before settling into a more restrained rhythm when the distorted guitars take the driver’s seat. The song, about not being 100% sure what’s going on around you in life while still doing your best but still being aware that you can only act through your own perspective beautifully highlights the theme as it alternates between beautiful, bright choruses and more dirty, overdriven verses.

From there, the EP turns towards “Abundance.” The second track on the Ep opens with a driven drum beat leading into a funky, rhythmically complex guitar riff before building into a chorus featuring sizzling drums that still drive the track underneath beautiful looping guitar lines supported by harmonizing overdriven guitars. The dual-character of the song is used here as well to capture its theme. This song is about that internal tension that pushes someone to improve themselves and the drive to self-sabotage. The shifting dynamics of the song highlighting this perfectly; the soft but rhythmically intense and mysterious sections that just sound like that drive to self-sabotage pushing against the bigger, nearly orchestral sections that sound like a tenacious willingness to look towards the bright side and push for self-improvement.

Track 3, “Moonrise”, starts off soft and reflective. Almost reminiscent of something The Doors would have released. But as Why Another has proved time and time again over the course of this EP, they are more than one thing. The track, being about what exists beyond the world that you’ve built for yourself, builds from there into something more hopeful. Twinkling, atmospheric guitar harmonies and drums that ride the shimmering cymbals serve as the sonic doorway partway through the song that open it up to that potential beyond your personal life. Building into more driven, personal alt-rock from there, the guitar driven melodies and restrained drums almost start to take on an Arctic Monkeys personality.

“Until I Get Told” takes it from there with sweet singer/songwriter vibes. The song, questioning what it means to create your own values in a world that always seems to seek to define them for you, has a hopeful-if-slightly-resigned sound that, again, perfectly captures that theme. The keys in the chorus are a really nie touch that contribute to a build up leading out of the first chorus that culminates in a drum fill that reflects the gap between one’s own values and those that were imposed on them. The simple but emotively characteristic guitar lead that takes center stage on the track from there really provides an anchor point outside the singer’s voice for the listener to hang onto and really uplifts the second half of the song. Fans of Crumb or Rodriguez will find this song sounding familiar.

Finally, The EP closes with “The Color is Off,” a song about building and rebuilding trust in your own intuition. The driving drums and melancholy production create an interesting tension in the song that reflect the theme of being uncertain yet still trying to push through and make the right choices, even when you don’t have all the information. With beautiful little guitar flourishes that pop in and out of the mix, the track is full of character as it builds towards a transition halfway through that starts to bring in elements of old school prog-rock. The restrained yet driving drums, building vocal harmonies, and a keys line that really pushes the track forward all echoes early Pink Floyd. From there, the track builds with the instrumentation, production, and vocal harmonies starting to swirl around the listener as more and more layers build towards the end of the song. Finally, those extra layers peel back, leaving only guitar feedback hanging over the initial intro riff, bringing the song full circle.

“For me, The Color Is Off is about trying to be okay with uncertainty, and trusting yourself enough to keep going anyway.” Adi Malka (frontman) says. “To be honest, I’m still processing how I feel about this release. Obviously, there’s relief and a sense of accomplishment, but more than anything it feels like an act of trust.”

The interpersonal rapport and synergy of the band members (even despite that uncertainty) is something vital to Why Another, and you can hear it in the complexity and dynamism of this project. The EP, tracked live with all the band members in the room together, really captures the interpersonal character of the band. For anyone who loves infectious grooves, compelling choruses, and memorable melodies, while dealing with real, sometimes heavy subject matter; or anyone who just loves a good live show with a band who loves playing and recording together “The Color is Off” is for you.

“I don’t really have the answers, and that’s actually at the center of this EP. These songs, both old and new, come from different moments of questioning where you fit, what you believe, and whether you can trust your own sense of things. I work with, and even rely on, my intuition, and releasing music always comes with the hope that the things we respond to in our songs will connect with other people out there.” — Adi Malka