Review: VEE DEE - Glimpses Of Another World EP

I assumed Chicago's VEE DEE had broken up. It's been awfully quiet since the release of the Further LP and Blood Zombie EP in 2004. I'm glad they're back at it because VEE DEE are one of my favorites to have emerged in the past few years. With their earlier releases I could easily summon up their sound as bearing similarities with THE TESTORS. Singer/guitarist Nick's vocals don't quite have the range or power of Sonny Vincent but that is no knock on their ability to play with and build on the bountiful trashed-out guitar licks and wonderfully thick, throbbing, fuzzed-out bass lines. The bass in particular really pounds an imprint of a song in my head and keeps it there. Although not without a sense of humor, there is a darker edge to VEE DEE's sound that isn't often present in other similar acts of today. Now having said all of that, this EP is a bit of a departure. But just a bit. Understandable, especially after 3 years of studio inactivity. The TESTORS similarities aren't as prevalent--the title track, clocking in at over 5 minutes, comes closest in similarity to the older material--and there appears to be more of a psychedelic garage feel, particularly with the track "What We See". As a result there aren't any instant punk rock anthems like "TV Police" present but instead a progressing display of skillful songwriting. I have to wonder if this is a taste of what is yet to come on a forthcoming 2nd full length. I'm eager to find out. I just hope the wait isn't another 3 years.
(2007, Criminal IQ - http://www.criminaliq.com)

Track Listing:
A: "Glimpses Of Another World"
B: "Death Cult Kissing Booth" "What We See"