JUSTIN COURTNEY PIERRE "AN ANTHROPOLOGIST ON MARS" EP REVIEW

Cover art for “An Anthropologist on Mars”

Justin Courtney Pierre’s new EP, An Anthropologist On Mars, is deep and dynamic. It gives a snapshot of an internal search for meaning and purpose in a seemingly barren wasteland. The production is excellent, the arrangement is brilliant, and the message is impactful. JCP manages to squeeze a vast progression into a measly 12 minutes. Don’t be fooled by the short timestamp, be prepared to stick this album on repeat!

“Questions and answers and suddenly I find this mystery is mine…”

“Dying To Know” kicks things right into high gear. It is a straight-up rocker with the standard split electric guitars, a solid rhythm section down the middle, and a clean, quick singing vocal to tie it all together. Beautiful harmonies are sprinkled in for texture and counterpoint to the main hook. A ripping guitar solo comes in at just the right moment to break things up. This is a track to blast in your car with the windows down this summer driving around the city.

“Unraveling this mystery, I’ve come to believe that no one wins this fight…”

For being titled “I Hate Myself” the second track feels rather upbeat; something you can crank up and dance around the room like no one is watching. The instrumental arrangement remains the same with the exception of a tasty synth line that takes the place of the vocal harmonies and melodic counterpoint in the first track. I see this as reflecting the introspective nature of the lyrics. It’s a song of self-talk. No outside voices, just a man and his thoughts.

“I feel like ditching portions of the past to make room for all the memories that haven't happened yet…”

Justin’s quest for answers takes a turn in “Footsteps” as we’re met with a dark tone at the start. There is a back and forth between the wallowing in the verses and a hopeful chorus of encouragement. That internal conversation is interrupted midway through by a gang of vocals giving an invitation to join in the underground song being sung. This is going to be such a great track to see performed live as it brings to mind a massive crowd singing along at an outdoor festival.

“I promise not to change; throw each memory down the drain until nothing else remains…”

“Promise Not To Change” brings back the energy in a fierce way. It’s a fitting title because the song structure harkens back to the opening track and initial search for something more. Yet after the journey we’ve been brought on, Justin comes to the acceptance of being who he is. This song is like returning home, finding your roots, and owning your core essence.

“There is no easy way to say what I need to say; rather than stuff it down, I choose to tear the whole thing out…”

To wrap things up, “Illumination” provides the answers long sought. It’s the lightbulb moment of reflecting on where we’ve been. This is easily my favorite track of the EP. It is catchy and brilliantly composed. The intro brings a fresh sound of simple piano and vocal. The band builds back in subtly, but it all climaxes into a fantastic instrumental outro that fades into the distance, greeting the future with a new perspective.
For as difficult a year as 2020 was, one positive outcome are the many great works of art being created. Some of the best things are born out of struggle. Grappling with forced isolation provides the opportunity to turn inward and reevaluate what we know about ourselves. JCP shows us the journey he took, the result of which was the assurance of who he is as an individual. There is the confidence to face the future.
I thoroughly enjoyed this EP. It is truly a work of genius. Having not listened to Justin Courtney Pierre’s solo work before, I can say with honesty that he’s gained a new lifelong fan. I’m excited to see what he comes out with next and hope to catch a live performance of this soon!

If you like what we are doing and would like to see more Melodic Noise Live concerts, please consider supporting us on Patreon, PayPal, or Venmo.

Review and interview by: Craig Sorenson, Writer @Sound_Textures
Edited by: Eric Martin, Writer/Assistant Editor @eamartin95