Why Don’t We, Invitation (EP) | Album Review

Up-and-coming pop collective Why Don’t We continues to keep the art of the boy band alive on its fourth EP, ‘Invitation.’

The boy band is alive and kicking… apparently.  For a while, it seemed as if the musical gods had spoken and dismissed the boy band.  That simply isn’t the case, with the arrival of new crop of boy bands, including Why Don’t We. Why Don’t We is comprised of five members: Corbyn, Daniel, Zach, Jonah, and Jack.  Interestingly, Invitation marks the pop collective’s fourth EP.

“Invitation” 

“Invitation” kicks off the Invitation EP in inviting fashion – Imagine that? The vibes reminisce back to 90s R&B, with some modern effects in play.  The crowning achievement of “Invitation” is clearly the arrival of the vocal harmonies.  Boy bands are expected to have vox harmonies.  While the invitation lacks innovation, it’s a pleasant opener and ultimately, a standout. 

“M.I.A.”

“M.I.A.” follows, sporting a clubby sound from the start, thanks to the looped bass synth.  The groove amplifies this quality, helping to fuel the fire Why Don’t We.  The boys have no trouble exhibiting mad game, or gimmickry for that matter.  All in all, “M.I.A.” certainly plays it cool, and that’s perfectly fine.

“Boomerang” continues to dabble in modern production tricks, notably pitch-shifted vocals.  Here, the production for such vocals sounds a bit sketchy.  There’s also additional gimmickry – part of the modern-pop script.  The chorus is certainly catchy: 

“I let you go, I set you free
Like boomerang, you come back to me.”

It should be noted that the boomerang metaphor has been around for ages.  Just saying.

“Words I Didn’t Say” 

“Words I Didn’t Say,” like “Invitation” brings the 90s back, front and center.  The electric keyboard and drum programming sound anachronistic in 2017.  Even so, hearing the glory days of that era again – sort of refreshing.  Add in a key change, and it’s definitely the 90s all over again in the hands of Why Don’t We.  Naturally, the vocals shine.

“Turn It Off” restores more contemporary vibes – and vibe is everything.  Like “M.I.A.,” this is the ‘now’ sound.  Arguably, Why Don’t We don’t bring anything ‘brand new’ to the table, but “Turn It Off” is enjoyable and pleasant.

Final Thoughts

All in all, Why Don’t We exhibits potential on their fourth EP, Invitation.  Are Why Don’t We the future of pop music? Ultimately, only time will tell.  Clearly, there is something here.  It’s a bit ‘rough around the edges,’ but it’s there and can easily be refined.

Gems: “Invitation” & “Words I Didn’t Say”

Why Don’t We • Invitation (EP) • Signature • Release: 9.26.17

Photo Credit: Signature