Last year, Move Out West’s debut EP, On The Run, screamed pop-rock potential. It had the feel of The Maine mixed with the taste of rock ‘n roll of Every Avenue and the slight country-rock roots of the latest material from Boys Like Girls. Well, one year later and they’ve perfected their craft with All’s Well On The Eastern Front, their second EP. Need evidence? Look no further than the opening track, “Magic Eight-Ball.” The track screams warm nights and begs to be cranked up in that convertible driving down the highway. Vocalist Eben Wares sounds stronger than ever throughout the chorus, with the band’s backup chants of “I can’t believe” bolstering his confidence. This is how pop-rock is supposed to be delivered. When Wares repeats, “Sex, drugs, no love / Just rock ‘n roll,” it becomes an anthem, nearly forcing the listener to belt it back at him. Brooding guitars give “God Damn” a somber start – yes, the opening drums remind me of “We Are Young” – before Wares takes control of the mic, reminiscing Boys Like Girls’ own Martin Johnson throughout the track. The chorus could be the strongest of any Move Out West have written due to the pacing of the track – the song is completely smooth and breezy until “whoa-whoa-ohs” bridge the way to Wares yelling, “God damn a million other people / I could have met / But lord, you had to show her.” Unexpectedly, the rest of the EP shifts gears altogether, taking a softer, acoustic route from here on out. “Find That Girl” allows Wares to take the spotlight, only employing acoustic guitars and a soft drum beat, while the intricate guitar plucks of “Forever” convey the skill of guitarists Luke Wright and Mark Loper. The latter showcases the completely different side of the band – if “Magic Eight-Ball” shows off their gritty, rock ‘n roll side, then “Forever” proves they can write an adequately memorable tender song. Worth every compliment, Move Out West have done a lot of growing in just a short amount of time. Not to mention the fact that working with Gary Cioffi (Transit, Misser) and Paul Leavitt (All Time Low, The Dangerous Summer) doesn’t hurt one bit, making sure the EP sounds top-notch and the guys reach their full potential through excellent production and mixing. The result of Move Out West’s hard work and top-notch team members is the creation of easily one of the strongest pop-rock EPs of 2012 with All’s Well On The Eastern Front.