Album review: Deep Space by Eisley

by Jessica Harp

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Released on Valentine's Day, the album exudes love, unlike their last album.

Last year, melodic indie band Eisley released The Valley, the family band’s most mature record to date both lyrically and sonically. It was a their debut into adulthood, as one member went through a divorce while her siblings and cousin seemingly dealt with the leftover emotions of a heart broken. The record that followed was a testament to the band's growth both musically and personally.

Less than a year later, Eisley released new EP Deep Space on Valentine's Day, and this new disc is as full of love as their last album wasn't. Recorded in the band’s hometown of Tyler, Texas, this five-song EP stands apart from their past releases as it has more of a concept than its predecessors, which stemmed from the band’s love of sci-fi author Ray Bradbury, author of the literary classic Fahrenheit 451.

The title track was conceptualized by singer/guitarist Sherri DuPree-Bemis when she read the novelist’s short story Rocket Man. The story eventually moved her to write the track about a couple who is leaving Earth for a life in space, knowing full well that they would never see their home planet again. The track starts out with a dreamy, out-of-this-world feel that weaves its way in and out of the song but never takes the focus away from the story about how love knows no boundaries.

Unlike The Valley, this EP is full of love instead of heartbreak. Several tracks including “One Last Song” and “192 Days” are filled with sweet words and affection. “192 Days” has an old-timey sound, which pays tribute to vintage film and music, as Sherri says, and was written 192 days into her courtship with her husband Max Bemis, lead singer of indie rock band Say Anything. (The last album, The Valley, was about Sherri's short-lived marriage at the time to Chad Gilbert of New Found Glory. She married Bemis in 2009.)

Deep Space is a brief album, but it is a solid offering for eager fans looking to hear new tunes from Eisley. With each record that they release, the band progresses towards musical maturity. This album is a place holder until their next full length record is released, but it demonstrates that they are just tapping into their potential as songwriters and musicians.

The band will be going on tour in support of Deep Space, and they are bringing along their younger sister Christie Dupree. The tour begins March 8 in Spokane, Washington, and ends in Dallas on April 1 at the Granada Theater.

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