Chicago-based prog-punk band Paper Mice have released their newest three-song EP, Neurotic City, on Three One G Records. While most would call the songs on Neurotic City cover songs, they are more in line with reimagined versions that fit what Paper Mice is known for.
Paper Mice start with the classic Captain and Tennille song “Love Will Keep Us Together.” The song starts with a slow build-up into Dave Reminick’s vocals. Reminick channels Toni Tennille’s cheerful vocal style almost perfectly. Musically, Paper Mice turn this song into a funky post-punk masterpiece.
Next up is Tina Turner’s Private Dancer, featuring guest vocals by Chicago songwriter NNAMDI. This is the standout track of this EP. Paper Mice’s sporadic style is on full display as they teeter between math rock and danceable funk. NNAMDI and Reminick’s combined vocals create an eerie seduction that’ll make you curious about this private dancer.
The final track is the re-imagined version of ABBA’s classic break-up song “S.O.S.,” with guest vocals by Miranda Winters. Paper Mice start the song off with Reminick’s gentle guitar picking, leading you to believe for a second that this may be a ballad. This thought is quickly dismantled as bassist Taylor Hales comes in with a stomping bass rhythm. This is followed by drummer John Carroll leading us into a start-stop romp that oddly fits the original feel of the somber lyrics. Winters perfectly follows this chaos while maintaining the sorrowful nature of the original.
Altogether, Paper Mice have created an unexpectedly fun EP of reimagined classics.
