There’s something about Scott Eubanks’ voice on “Painted Silhouette” that speaks to the hopelessness romantic in me. Soulful, but with a quivering, bittersweet quality that teeters on the edge of tears, the singer considers the cost of unrequited love and the possibility that the fantasy stands firmer than the reality ever could. It’s a masterful performance of a thoughtful lyric and a perfect way to kick off End Of A Daydream. For this EP, Best Laid Plans is basically guitarist Eubanks and drummer Dan Almoney (although these high school friends have since put together a full band). The talented duo shows their chops on four carefully crafted and intelligent roots-rock songs. Whereas “Painted Silhouette” is a real tearjerker, “Just In The Way” kicks ass with furious riffing and explosive percussion. A clever artistic statement, it reveals that Eubanks thoroughly understands the quicksand-like nature of pop culture, asking “is this a passionate game or an undertow?” The mournful “Train Song” is a fine slice of high-lonesome imagery and emotional storytelling while “Seven Years Gone” speaks of lost love and lost opportunities, searching for meaning in a meaningless world. It’s another solid effort, Eubanks a young songwriting talent with a bright future. With End Of A Daydream, Best Laid Plans has accomplished more in a quarter-hour than most bands achieve with a full-length CD.