Almost ready for radio

Although his voice is still heard on Mayday Parade’s newest album, A Lesson In Romantics, Jason Lancaster left the band right before the album was released. But just as his former bandmates started to get some dap around the scene, Lancaster resurfaced with his new project, Go Radio. After some touring, the band has gotten around to releasing their debut EP, Welcome To Life.

Welcome To Life features sounds that any fans of Lancaster’s previous work would expect. The guy has one of the most unique voices in the scene today. The EP is full of solid pop/rock tunes that might not quite have the sheen of Mayday Parade, but still satisfy just the same.

“I Miss You” pretty much personifies Go Radio’s sound. It’s a track that is not blatantly catchy, but after a few listens the hooks stick with you. Each member of the band seems to be good at his instrument, but none of them are noteworthy. Again, it’s Lancaster’s deep voice that shines.

And although Lancaster provides great vocals on more upbeat songs, the way he delivered on the ballads with Mayday Parade stood out. Thankfully, that doesn’t change here. “Forever My Father,” a bare track featuring only vocals and a piano, closes the album very well. He delivers the lines “I just needed you to pick me up/ Like you did when we were younger/ When the lightening and the thunder had me clinging to your heart” with an emotional ferocity not seldom seen.

Ever since he left Mayday, many thought the band couldn’t survive with Lancaster’s vocals. But oddly enough, a few of Go Radio’s tracks feel empty without Mayday’s vocalist Derek Sanders complementing Lancaster. It seems their voices worked perfectly together and some tracks here aren’t as good as one would imagine.

For a debut EP, Welcome To Life is a strong effort full of catchy melodies and sizable hooks. Major Mayday Parade fans might not be happy Lancaster is gone, but at least they now have another band that’s almost as good to enjoy.