The Velvet Teen's 2006 EP GyzmKid isn't really an EP. With one original track and two remixes of songs from their forthcoming record, Cum Laude, the disc is a little short, but the tunes on it are definitely strong enough to satiate fans who can't wait for the full album. The title track alone is worth the price of purchase: a wild composition with layers of prog rock drumming, Atari sound effects, and slick pop/rock harmonies. A synthesizer carries the pointed melody over a fantastic wall of shoegazer guitar noise, while the chorus reaches an epic climax without turning cathartic or whiny. Much like the second song on the disc, a dreamy synth pop song called "Spin the Wink [Little Cat Remix]," "GyzmKid"'s electronic orchestration keeps things cool while singer Judah Nagler's vocal track succumbs to a distortion effect in place of an indulgent scream. The third track, "False Profits [Cute Version]," is an old-fashioned acoustic Brit-pop ballad, except Nagler channels the brooding style of Bryan Ferry instead of the adolescent sounds of Liam Gallagher or Bobby Gillespie. The disc then comes to a halt at just a hair under 12 minutes, and GyzmKid is thus not an EP by the strictest standards. As a single, however, it delivers, leaving you curious and excited about what the band has in store. ~ Cammila Albertson, Rovi
