Death of the Alphabet

Schatzi's Death of the Alphabet EP collects four songs from their Fifty Reasons to Explode album as well as three new tracks and some multimedia content. Produced by Ed "Floyd" Rose, songs like the title track, "Sucked into Something," and "The Spider Smells Disaster" deliver on the promise of the group's earlier work and add a bigger, confident sound that makes a clever contrast with the songs' wittily self-deprecating lyrics. The closing epic, "The Fall of Canaryville," shows off Schatzi's guitar and songwriting chops in equal amounts, while "Song for Stephanie" and "By the Silvery Moon" prove that the group can be just as catchy when they're quiet and sensitive as when they've got their guitars cranked up. With its tight, appealing songwriting and surprisingly eclectic sound, Death of the Alphabet suggests that Schatzi has a lot more to offer.