"Head Against the Sky" EP

Thought its iTunes-only release prompted mild complaints from some fans, the "Head Against the Sky" EP delivered with an expertly re-recorded version of the title track as well as the first official release of "The Escaping Song" and live performances of two other fan favorites.

"Head Against the Sky" starts the EP with a bang, opening with the eerie, keyboard-and-guitar driven intro fans have grown to love since the song's first appearance on EP2. This song has lost its lo-fi aesthetic, including some swirling undertones that lent a lot of atmosphere to the original, and the vocals are much clearer now (though Stacy's harmonies seem a little low in the mix). Chauntelle has added a couple new riffs to the verses, and this extra element brings a lot to the song. Sadly, there's no longer a bass part on the mellow outro--fans of the original missed this the most. For all that, this new version of "Head Against the Sky" is an improvement: the embodiment of viscerally emotive, stadium-filling rock that Eisley seem to have a knack for despite a penchant for softer songs in the recent past. Boyd has hinted that much of Eisley's next LP will be stylistically similar to "Head Against the Sky," and with this new version the band have proven that they're capable of packing an emotional wallop.

The three live tracks that follow are not in order, nor does the crowd noise blend together (though that effect can be achieved through a media player's crossfade option), but despite those factors the tracks are delicious morsels of what was going to be Eisley's first live DVD. Unfortunately the lighting and sound were unsalvageable for that purpose, but Boyd and Thomas (Kingspin on the Laughing City) did an amazing job of mixing these tracks.

"Just Like We Do" was obviously meant to be the mellow portion of the concert, and as loud as the crowd noise is in between tracks, everyone is silent while Stacy plays. She proves once again that she is every bit as competent on guitar as on keys, and it's evident from the awed silence of the audience that a live performance is the best way to experience "Just Like We Do."

"Mr. Pine" is a fan favorite and receives two very enthusiastic responses during the intro. The live performance, like any live performance should, sounds rather different from the EP2 recording; the sound is richer, more layered, with a bit more energy from Chauntelle. It's easy to visualize the animated guitarist swaying excitedly during the chorus' main riff.

While it was once a contender for Room Noises, the recording of "Escaping Song" was shelved by the band and they began playing it live during the Snow Patrol tour in late 2004. It's been a staple of their set ever since, with a calliope-like rhythm and beautifully harmonized (as is par for the course with Eisley) chorus. Outside of Boyd's live videos and some band-approved live MP3s, this is the first official release of "Escaping Song," and it's a near flawless introduction to the track.

Though some listeners may be dismayed by the "Head Against the Sky" EP's limited availability and brief tracklist, the release should not be overlooked. It's entirely worth an iTunes download to have such high-quality live versions of these tracks, not to mention the sheer beauty of the re-recorded title track.