By: Kayleigh Drake

Y’all know I love to see a fellow Southern band kicking ass. And that’s one of many reasons why I’m digging the heck out of this new Cashier EP.

Cashier being the four-piece band from Lafayette, Louisiana, who just released a six-songer, “The Weight,” on Julia’s War Recordings last week. (As in, the iconic Philly-based label founded by Doug Dulgarian from TAGABOW.) And it has been in my daily rotation consistently ever since. 

In terms of sound, I’d nestle this record somewhere in the lo-fi pop-punk and emo camp. It kinda reminds me of Rainer Maria if they leaned more on the poppier side, or Jejune if Arabella sang on all the vox. I wouldn’t call it, like, straight-up, middle of Illinois EMO-emo but it’s in a similar vein. And it’s a vein that I’m definitely a fan of. 

One thing I especially love about this EP: The songs track together exceptionally well. The ending of each song sets the stage perfectly for the intro of the next, and each one picks up where the other left off. And while that may seem like a no brainer when putting together an album, it’s not always done this well. There’s an art to it. And it’s one of those things where, when it’s done right, it’s a sight to behold. (Or rather a sound to be…hear?) Like each track is a movement in one gigantic song. If you know, you know. Anyway, this EP is an absolute chef’s kiss in that regard. (And in many others tbh.) 

We start things out with A Curse I Know So Well, which opens with a simple, sparse strum. Kind of a mic-check moment to make sure you’re ready for the onslaught of catchiness that’s about to ensue. (And ensue it does.) That then progresses into a mid-tempo track that I’d say is perhaps the most emo-leaning of the bunch. 

Next up is Like I Do, which was the very first single from this EP. And it’s easy to see why. It’s a catchy, driving number with a chord progresh that reminds me of “Phaser” by Superdrag mixed with the intro to “Every You Every Me” by Placebo. It’s one of my faves for sure, and I like it so much I’m playing on my Substrate show tonight! (Spoiler alert.) 

Part From Me is the second single, and it’s another one of my faves. The “sayyyy what you wanna say” part from the chorus has been stuck in my head for weeks now. (And I bet it’ll get stuck in yours, too.) 

Then comes For I Never Knew You, a 34-second track that’s just guitar feedback. Is it the outro of the last song or the intro to the next? Por que no los dos?

Then there’s Same Mistakes, and we’ve got some major Hum vibes with this one. (I feel like I reference Hum in like 90 percent of the reviews I write, but what can I say — they’re ubiquitously good.) Anyway, circling back to the aforementioned Phaser, there’s some really cool, spacey phaser effects going on in here that brings to mind “I’d Like Your Hair Long” from You’d Prefer an Astronaut. (At least, I think it’s a phaser. Maybe it’s a flange? Idk lol. It’s good either way.)

Finally, title track The Weight provides a nice little mid-tempo closer, with a cool “ahhh” part in the chorus-ish area that incorporates a bit of vocal harmonization perfection. 

All in all, this is an incredibly solid little EP from Cashier, and it makes me extremely stoked for whatever else they’ve got cookin’ for the future. (Which, hopefully, will include a full-length LP at some point. Crossing all the fings.)

Listen to Cashier’s “The Weight” on Bandcamp here!