A Short Collection Of Short Songs, the fourth release from Cincinnati, Ohio natives Mixtapes, shows abundant advancement from the highly impressive and distinctive quartet. The 7” has definitely not only gained them a substantial portion of fans from the masses of the pop punk community, but reached the horizons of other musical cliques.  I for one am yet to recommend this band to someone who hasn’t been even a little impressed, so it’s safe to conclude that Mixtapes are doing something right.

Beginning with the longest track on the 7”, reeling in at 2:36, “Birthday Party Summer Camp (Helllooo Meggannnn)”, Mixtapes straight away display what they’re all about. To kick off the 12 minute EP, we’re greeted with simple keys and the smooth complimenting tones of duel vocalists Ryan Rockwell and the quirky and cute Maura Weaver. Add some catchy hooks as the band kicks in, plus crowd favourite gang vocal sing-a-longs and you’re presented with a perfect representation of Mixtapes – a fun filled band who never fail to make me crack a smile. Said gang vocals emphasize the modest and relatable lyrics Mixtapes master such as, “And I could have some fun out there/and show up late and try to blend in/ It makes me feel kinda of weird/and maybe I’ll lose some friends.” and shouted final line, “I’m not scared/ I just don’t have anything to say”.  Straight and to the point without any strings attached, Mixtapes’ way with words is reflective of the words scribed by Dan ‘Soupy’ Campbell  of The Wonder Years who is coincidently the band’s booking agent.

Coming in at just under two minutes, Weaver’s calm and gentle vocals are put on full display in “The Real Hotel California”, before Rockwell joins her and demonstrates how perfectly they are able to harmonise male and female vocals without resulting in cheesy and cringe worthy material, a real credit to the band. Hints of 90s punk rock ska bands such as Less Than Jake can be heard through the 7” and are incredibly evident on this track and also on “I’m Like”. “I’m Like” is a track which showcases how Mixtapes are diverse and never leave you thinking, “didn’t I just listen to this song?” Thanks to their ability to stay fresh, tracks like this place Mixtapes in a pop/punk genre, where as other tracks will slide over to indie rock. Yeah, genres confuse me too.

For their consistently expanding fan base, “Soups Whatever” can now be labelled a fan favourite thanks to four perfect ingredients which result in Mixtapes’ excellent concoction; a few acoustic guitars (courtesy of Rockwell and Weaver), a couple of unique tight-knit vocalists, spirit lifting chirpy keys and signature lyrics depicting anecdotes. “Whits End” follows suit and shows the bands ability to create essential catchy songs that stick in your head whether you like it or…well yes, you’ll certainly like it.

“Anna Maria” is much more mellow and shows the relaxing and carefree dual vocals as they sing a personal favourite line of mine in, “It’s better to lose yourself/than someone else/’cause I’m just not prepared/and I’m scared.” This is then adapted to the final line of the EP, “It’s better to love yourself and everyone else/at least those that we love/’cause you never know/when things could change/or just go away/so I’ll tell you I love you every day”.

On this cutsie note, I’ll conclude by saying Mixtapes have a very bright forthcoming. They truly are only getting better, standing out from the crowd and playing shows with reputable bands in the pop-punk scene (The Wonder Years, Fireworks). Their future is exciting and for those who’ve been following Mixtapes for some time, A Short Collection of Short Songs will only expand your love for the band, as their maturity and progression is apparent and presumably ever growing. A listen of this could very well be the best 12 minutes of your week.