The Chorus Music Club Society • Page 148

Oh wow I dig the artwork on that one

 

Honestly, I have such a long list of things I’ve been meaning to personally check out and don’t have that much time to add an extra album each week that I also have to write up

 

Artwork for it is just as cool as the actual music

 

I'm so bad at doing my write-ups just like in school I procrastinate way too much. I still have to do one for the record @skurt gave me. Don't think I saw his write-up for Paint Brain unless I missed it...

 

It does take a little bit of pushing to make myself do the write ups but I’ve gotten accustomed to doing them on Saturday nights after my fiancée goes to bed. It’s kind of become kind of my thing once I push myself to start writing I get in the groove

 

mostly my problem is the time issue. I have listened to 2 of the 3 albums i've been assigned but I just haven't made time to do the write up. With work and kids I just ran out of time for now. once i catch up I'll probably come back for a week or 2 at a time.

 

The amount of albums you take is negotiable though for the future. If 2-3 is too much do 1

 

I like to write them at work when I’m eating lunch :)

 

yeah this was over 2 weeks 2 different people.

i'm 2 sessions (3 albums) behind in my reviews

 

Well I’m wanting to get this thread as bustling as it was back in December. So if anyone has ideas dm me them

 

I jot down notes in my phone as I'm listening - just little things that stand out and then once it's time to write the review I just have to copy and paste that and then piece it together and add my whole impression. it goes by quicker that way for me

 

Smart use

 

I just don’t have a great deal of time at school. I had fun with it but really doubt I’ll have time to commit to it

 

I’ve just been recommended a lot of stuff I don’t really enjoy it just feels like a chore.

 

I think the issue is people get stressed over writing a review. A review can be as simple as a rating out of 10, highly recommend, etc.

 

$$$.

 

Or a nice back rub.

 

Personally, I've just been hella busy lately. Sorry.

 

Exactly what I do. I write a few sentences, random words, what it reminds me of/makes me feel for each track in real short hand. Then piece together for a review.

As for taking a break, I want to review the albums given to me well and do them justice after taking the time to be rec'd something and spending time listening to it. If I can't commit to doing that, I'd rather just sit out whilst life takes over for a bit and jump back in when I can dedicate the time to listen and review.

 

Understandable :) we’re here when you’re ready

 

OKAY Its time to continue on with the reviews. I have four left, so here are two of them. These come from our very own @Wall Of Arms and going into this I knew I was in for a ride, because this guy has some good music tastes from what Ive seen on here.

Circa Survive-The Amulet

Circa Survive is a band that has been around for quite a while. I remember seeing them live at a Warped Tour I believe way back when. I knew of a few songs of theirs, a few from some friends and a few from my fiancée who is a fan of them. I myself, though, had never gotten around to listening to a full album of theirs. With that being the case, I was excited to pick up a full album of theirs and give them a spin; I liked the few I knew and I was impressed when I had seen them live.

The album opens with 'Lustration', a song that very much sets the tone of this melodic album. This 5 and a half minute long song starts off slow, and when the vocals kick in it begins to paint a picture of a dark and emotional song that comes in with rolling drums and crooning lyrics that are actually a highlight of the album, with these dark lyrics of regret about a love gone wrong. The vocalist of this band fits very well with the atmosphere of the album, though, I have always said that from the few songs I knew from this band. This emotion soon erupts in the second track, and my favorite on the album, 'Never Tell A Soul'. This song is a blast, and a full on demonstration of every component of this band. The guitars are borderline divine, with bass lines that cut in and intertwine. The drums set the back drop, while the vocals range from crooning singing to screaming and yelling where it sounds like his throat is about to erupt mid song, and the pitches reach high pitches that work well with his vocal tone.

Its tempting to say that the vocals carry this album; because they are super passionate and never grating whether he's softly singing or belting out a screaming line. That would do this album injustice though, as the guitars in these songs are perfectly crafted. As far as Circa Survive goes, this is probably the most polished and well put together I have heard of their songs from the handful of them that I knew. I could be wrong on this, but as far as my knowledge goes that is the case. 'At Night It Gets Worse' is another song I would recommend if I was trying to show someone this album. The bass lines in this song are top notch, and the vocals are echoing with these dark and lamenting lyrics about the uncertainty of a relationship. This song alone encompasses everything this album has to offer; daunting lyrics, beautiful strings, deep bass, and well crafted drums.

This review would not be complete if I did not mention 'The Hex'. This song starts off in a way you know you are going to like this track, and as soon as the vocals kick in its done. The lyrics as soon as it starts show this song of regretting the past in a relationship, and how feeling like no matter how much you love that you are going to lose. "Sent to the gallows to see if you could believe it all, ransom the last of the meat you'd never love enough" speaks volumes about the death of a love and losing, feeling like you did not do enough to keep it from a death sentence despite your best efforts.

This is a good album, one that I probably will revisit in the future. Its very moody, and very atmospheric, all things that I like. I didn't fall in love with the album right away, I will admit. It took me a couple listens to really begin to appreciate some of these song. I recommend spinning this album on a dark cold night, maybe sitting outside on a porch in the dark with headphones in. I did that this evening before writing this, and it is definitely an experience I will remember.
8/10

Hippo Campus- landmark

Unlike Circa Survive, I had never heard of these guys before the CMCS. I had no idea what to expect when I pulled this album; and it was definitely different. This band is very unique in their delivery of these songs, and it is definitely a different pill to swallow than my usual choice of music; even if it technically falls into the same genre as some of the bands I listen to on a regular basis.

Right off the bat I will say one thing, I do not like the intro to this album. I have no idea what it is, but something about the intro track 'Sun Veins' is really grating to listen to on headphones. On my repeat listens I actually skipped it a couple times. It has these weird crackling beeps in the background as the vocalist sings in the distance echoing, and it just did not click well. Luckily, the saving grace of the second track 'Way It Goes' saved me from that little intro. Sounding like something straight out of the soundtrack of a television show's finale or the ending of a movie, this song is smooth and soft with a very simplistic approach to the music, and the vocals crooning about how its just the way it goes but at least you're trying. Its actually a very relaxing song, and definitely had me interested in the rest of the album. Another song similar to this is 'Monsoon', which starts with a keyboard and electronic effects that play nicely behind this soft and mellow delivery of the opening lines. Its a very soft song, right up until these mellow and relaxing picking strings cut in right around at about the half way mark.

The rest of this album is a lot like that, in a way. Simplistic and yet somehow ahead of themselves. I can hear 80s influences in songs like 'Western Kids' and 'Vacation', but there's also this modern pop influence. There is techno, these spiffy sound effects in the background and auto tune in certain parts of each of these songs. 'Vacation' again, is an example of this and has some of my favorite lyrics on the album; "There's fickle roads that fade, To paths of safe and signs delivered. Smoking grass to find our facts while hopes decay and wither, I'll take out my lighter to see in dull and dark juniper evenings. I'll burn the field to yield a sign of biblical proportions." lyrics like these paint a picture in your mind with this mellow indie rock vibe they have going on of someone who is recovering from tragedy in their life and moving on, changing the paths of their life and taking a vacation from who they were to become something new. That seems to be the message of this song.

One of the more upbeat songs is the closing track of 'Buttercup', which starts with these really odd intro that will somehow manage to ingrain itself in your brain. The lyrics themselves seem to be about a relationship coming to an end, and the battle between the couple as they split with the woman believing she'll be fine on her own. But what gets me about this song is the ending of the song; it just lets loose for one of the few times on this album and the band truly lets their instruments carry the end of the song. Its truly a good way to end the album.

This is a very, very relaxing album. This isn't an album to listen to while you are driving in your car, and you won't be singing the lyrics as you drive the highway. This album is best listened to while laying on the couch with your eyes closed, or while writing or painting. Its a very melodic and a very psychedelic album, its not the common core alternative rock. Very out there in a very unique way, its hard to hate this album just because of how happy it sounds despite tackling some darker subjects in a couple places in these songs. If you like different and out there indie rock, or you like songs that use effects in cool and unique ways both with the music and the vocals, this may be your thing. As for me, while I enjoyed it, I think I need to be in a certain mood or a certain setting to revisit it; and I am not saying that in a bad way. This is an artistic album.
7/10.

 

Great! I'm so glad you enjoyed both of them! Hippo Campus was my album of the year for the Chorus staff lists of 2017 - it just stuck with me like nothing else (although it was joint first with Phoebe Bridgers) and live, they are incredible. For some fun facts as you picked up on the production and mixing of tracks a lot - it was produced by BJ Burton who has worked a lot with Bon Iver so the way the album sort of swims and flows together and has a lot more layers than it seems on first listen is down to him.

Circa are forever one of the best and Anthony is such a god among men. I'll have yours tomorrow night my time! Thanks a lot for spending such time with them, enjoying them and writing your reviews! Also appreciate the kind words!

 

My process is similar. I listen to the album at least three times full through the week (maybe more if i really liked it) while I take notes. Usually at night after my fiancée is asleep while I sit on the couch with headphones. Then I get on my laptop and write it while listening to it yet again, using my notes to write out the review

 

I agree Circa is pretty good I’ll be checking out their past stuff, and I’m curious to hear Future hippo releases. Looking forward to your write ups!

 

Alright everyone, home stretch of the 7 albums I took on this week so its time for the final two. These come from @sophos34 our newest member of the group, so lets see what the newbie has in store for me. Right here, Right now.

Thrice- To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere

I feel like some people on this thread and website have been telling me to listen to these guys for a while (@Larry David )@bachna84 @Colin Your Enthusiasm ) and the truth is I have before, but I had only heard their very first album which I am told is subpar compared to the rest of their discography. This 2016 album was my first venture into revisiting a band that I liked the first album of but was never really impressed with it enough to listen to the rest of their discography. Right from the first few minutes of this album I realized how much of a grave error that was. This type of rock is right up my alley, and I am surprised I was so stubborn giving them a listen before this.

'Hurricane' is a very anthemic way to begin an album, and I was pleasantly surprised the moment I heard it. The track actually starts off kind of slower to mid tempo, with some well strung guitar and soft vocals coming in. Then the guitars fade to the back while the vocals take over with these extremely passionate lyrics until erupting again. The song has this pace to it that keeps you hooked in, and by the end of the 4:45 everything has come together and taken off in this glorious opener of a track that makes you want to just sing along with it. The album doesn't let up when it comes to the second track, 'Blood In the Sand' which I am going to go on record saying is my favorite song on the track. That chorus is a complete banger, and its the kind you want to just roll the windows down in your car and sing along with at the top of your lungs, which I did. The lyrics of this song are about being fed up with the world around you, and this very heavy outcry against war and politics. With a ripping chorus featuring the lyrics "There's blood on the sand, there's blood in the street. And there's a gun in my hand, or there might as well be, And I'm sick of it — I'm so sick of this" a raw emotion that many of us in this modern world can relate to is clearly expressed.

The seventh track, 'Black Honey', starts off with this dark and dreary slow guitar, which slowly builds up behind equally daunting lyrics before exploding. The layers to not just this song, but pretty much every song on this album is incredible. You have musically; these pure rock guitars that stand out enough to help carry the songs but not enough to overwhelm them, bass lines that coincide with the guitars, and some beautiful drumming. There is one part in this song especially, right after the music drops and the vocals are sung to silence that the drums and guitar come thumping back in with this 1-2-1-2-1-2 tempo that is just beautiful. And the lyrics, whoah. The lyrics of this song are so relatable and deep, speaking to this dark paranoia of how everything you cherish you destroy, and that you will inevitably be your own worst enemy in the end. I love the lyrics in the second verse, 'I tried to stick this pin through a butterfly 'cause I...I like all the pretty colors, But it just fell apart so I flung it in the fire, To burn with all the others." They're so dark. But so meaningful.

Again, the following track is amazing. The eight track on the album is 'Stay With Me', and is a bit of a slower song during the verses and sort of a rock ballad as it leads up to this erupting chorus that speaks to the passion and love of staying together in the midst of war and being afraid of losing that love. The guitars in this song are AMAZING, and can easily stack up among some of the best sounding guitars on this album, an album already littered with great musicianship. The prowess of the songs continue to the excellent closer ' Salt and Shadow' as well, which starts off beautifully and merits me just telling you to go to listen to it. They haul everything back for this slow, melodic and beautiful closer of a song and I could not think of a better way to end this album. I like this album, a hell of a lot. Everyone kept pressuring me to listen to thrice, and I will be listening to this album more often and the rest of their discography.
8.5/10

O'Brother- Endless Light

I always wondered where @bachna84 got his avatar from when I first met him, and if I am not mistaken this is it. This was a band I had never even heard off, but upon looking into them it seems this band hails from my neighbors over in Atlanta, GA. Atlanta has always interested me and I know is home to some great bands, so I was cautiously optimistic, but as soon as the slow and haunting 'Slow Sin' began to introduce me to this band and the album, my curious was completely piqued.

The next two tracks, 'Your Move' and 'Deconstruct' kept my interest very well with this melodic and at times eerie and creepy sounding guitar with these slow and deep vocals behind them. I was also a fan of the blaring electronic guitars that sometimes came echoing through the background of songs such as 'Complicated End Times' and were littered throughout the other tracks. This album was dark, musically. With these deep guitars and base, and the lead vocalist having this voice that just rides along with those sounds, this is in most senses a very laid back album that I imagine sounds amazing in a live setting. The intro track and songs like 'Burn' would sound great in a concert venue, I believe. This is not to say that the album is 100% laid back, there are these explosive moments in songs like the aforementioned Burn, or 'Bloodlines' and 'Blackhole' but for the most part I found the music to be scaled back a bit and mellow compared to other bands of this genre. When they let loose, they really let loose though. 'I am (Become Death)' is probably my favorite track on the album and sadly comes closer to the end of it. Its so haunting to listen to, but its melodically beautiful at the same time.

These guys are talented, I can say that. However, I hate to report that this album did not hook me in 100% like I wanted it to. There are a handful of tracks like 'I Am( Become Death'), 'Complicated End Times', 'Deconstruct', and ' Slow Sin' that I will most likely revisit, and as I mentioned earlier I believe this album probably sounds amazing in a live venue setting and I would not mind catching that. However, I don't see myself returning to the album as a whole any time soon rather than experiencing in doses in the future on playlists.
6/10