THE ROCKY VALENTINES – The Rocky Valentines EP

THE ROCKY VALENTINES - The Rocky Valentines EP

$7.99 — $14.99

When Charlie Martin sings, “Saw my dad with friends, played in bands; never thought this would be the plan,” it feels like he was fighting the inevitable.

After watching his dad front the band Staflyer 59 — alongside myriad side projects — the teenaged Martin contributed to SF59’s most recent LP leaving a debut release from his one-man project, The Rocky Valentines, nearly unavoidable.

On The Rocky Valentines’ self-titled EP, Martin relies on his experiences growing up in Southern California to lyrically dress his brand of guitar rock, with great melodies, punctuated with his own drum fills. Songs about summers in the pool — “Shooting With One Eye” — and burgeoning relationships — “Off & On” — are rounded out with the acceptance of his own musical legacy in “Microphone.”

Produced by Jason Martin, the EP pushes on like a more introspective incarnation of indie-darlings The Drums. Dotted with the odd Doug Martsch-esque guitar work, the four tracks rarely slow down and close out fast. Think Black Sabbath’s “Vol. 4,” but in fifth gear on a summer day.

Spearheaded by the single “Off & On,” out on Aug. 19, the four-track EP will be released fully on Sept. 2 by Velvet Blue Music.

Mixed by Bryce Rivera and mastered by Jason Martin’s Lo Tom bandmate T.W. Walsh, with artwork by Eric Collins (Mr. ENC), the EP will be young Charlie’s first venture into the vast world of music.