There is a specific kind of mid-90s alternative rock blueprint that just works, and CJ Sooy leans into it beautifully on the new EP, Is Anything Real. Instead of chasing modern trends, the record focuses on texture, tension, and a very deliberate approach to dynamics.
The guitar work is where the EP truly works. Take the verses: rather than falling back on predictable, clean acoustic strumming, Sooy goes for arpeggiated notes running through subtle fuzz. It gives the tracks that sweet, soft but saturated feel. You can still clearly trace the melodic lines, but there’s this warm, buzzing harmonic distortion humming right beneath the vocals that keeps things gritty. Rhythmically, the EP keeps its head down and does the work. The drums stick to steady rock backbeats with minimal, no-nonsense fills. Keeping the hi-hats mostly closed during the verses leaving plenty of breathing room for the bass to lock in and drive the groove.
And then there are the transitions to the choruses where the songs connect where the tight arpeggios are replaced by wide power chords and crashing cymbals, creating that beautiful dynamic contrast. In terms of the songwriting, there are no real structural surprises here, but that predictability works. The chord progressions carry a familiar, nostalgic gravity that just feels right for this genre.
And there is not a better example to capture what we have already said than the title track “Is Anything Real”, our personal favorite and the track that closes out the EP. The song captures that classic, towering stadium-rock ballad energy, starting with those intimate, soft verses before exploding into the kind of anthemic, wide-open chorus you can easily picture a festival crowd singing back at the stage. It’s the perfect finish for the record, and honestly, the exact kind of track you’d want to save for a live encore.
If you miss these old good days of alternative rock, this debut work is well worth a spin.
Is Anything Real is out August 7th on all major streaming platforms and available on vinyl for a limited release at www.cjsooy.com
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