By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

Vancouver based folk duo Sheldoncole released their first EP “Detroit” in December. Sheldoncole is comprised of Sheldon Kozushko and his brother Nic, who are originally from Newberg, Oregon.

I really enjoyed the EP. Sheldoncole’s style is reminiscent of folk artists such as Jose Gonzalez and Greg Laswell. The lyrics are simple yet thoughtful and hold strong emotion that is easily felt by the listener.

The highlight of the six-song EP is definitely “West Coast.” With a catchy tune and beautiful lyrics, “West Coast” is one of the best songs on the EP.

The song “Merely Breathing” is less memorable than all the others. It feels a little all over the place, while the other strong songs on the EP are well-crafted and focused. In both lyrics and music, “Merely Breathing” had me waiting for the next song rather than enjoying it.

Another strong song is “Live for Love.” The song is sad, but thoughtful and hopeful. Sheldoncole’s friendly and uplifting style pairs well with the feeling of melancholy, creating a different and hopeful vibe in the song.

“Made for No” is heavily focused on the lyrics: a story of heartbreak and grief. The song has the most memorable lyrics on the whole EP. I found myself humming the chorus hours after listening.

The EP ends with a song called “Detroit”, a soft, relaxing spoken word song retelling the story of a night in Detroit. The song is a lot less focused than the rest of the EP. It feels out of place and ends the EP on weird note.

Sheldoncole’s debut EP gets a lot right, but misses the mark occasionally. Yet its thoughtful lyrics and all around good music makes “Detroit” a pleasure to listen to.

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu