The angelic tones and vocals that emanate from WIDOWSPEAK’s newest EP are something I’ve been longing for but were executed so poorly.  

WIDOWSPEAK is an alternative rock duo based in New York City made up of Molly Hamilton (singer-songwriter) and Robert Earl Thomas (the guitarist). Last September, the duo celebrated their 10th anniversary. Within their ten-year career, they have released a total of six pieces–five LPs and one EP. 

Their EP, Honeychurch, was released on January 22, 2021. The EP as a whole created a warm and safe sensation that was super nostalgic. The soft vocals and guitar felt like it should’ve been playing inside a small cottage on the hillside that is surrounded by gardens. Though I enjoyed the feeling of the life I wish I could live, it just wasn’t living up to my expectations.

The EP didn’t start quite right. I was expecting a grand opening track with an emotional aspect tied to it; there was none at all. Instead, the duo served us with “Money doesn’t grow on trees” repeatedly as the “grand opening.” Looking back, this was the outlier of the album and not an ideal track to start with, especially since none of the other songs were about money. The other tracks had a specific feeling attached to them, and “Money (Hymn)” was lacking it. The last song, “Honeychurch,” would’ve been a start that made sense. The duo presented a soft vibe and fit very well with the tones in the other songs. 

Honeychurch consists of only five songs: “Money (Hymn),” “Sanguine,” “The One I Love,” “Romeo and Juliet,” and “Honeychurch.” The length of the EP makes me a little upset; there was so much potential the duo had with this, but so little was expressed. Having only three out of the five songs on an EP that almost have a common theme is confusing. Not only did the number of songs on the EP bother me, but the length time-wise helped wash away their potential. At that point, making them singles would’ve made more sense and prevented me from listening to the EP for an hour trying to get a grasp on it. 

This was my first–and probably my last–time hearing something from WIDOWSPEAK. I liked the vibes some of the songs gave off, I really did, but my first impression of them wasn’t great. Their previous singles and EPs feel rushed rather than thought-out. Each of their previous EPs were the same: short, lacking an engaging theme, and different. 

Honeychurch is similarly like a photo dump some people post on Instagram–random and something I wouldn’t like. The comfortable vibes and chords make the EP bearable for a first-time listen, but after a while, it starts to blend into a meaningless piece.