Circa Survive - On Letting Go
Record Label: Equal Vision Records
Release Date: May 29, 2007
It might be unwise to select one of my favorite albums as the first I've ever reviewed, but it's safe enough to do it two years into listening. This is Circa Survive's second album, and it's solid. Since they are sometimes described as experimental, you might be surprised that On Letting Go is only the next step for the band, and not an entirely new sound. For the sophomore effort, the band barely strays from the fresh, winning sounds of 2005's Juturna. Not that that's a bad thing. Juturna gets the award for capturing an unbelievably huge sound and then personalizing the hell out of it. Once you've spent some time with it, On Letting Go is the logical next step for the beast Circa Survive captured. They matured the sound and brought together an even bigger amount of it and then tightened the screws on just about everything.
This sound I keep mentioning is-- effectually-- meandering guitars soaked in effect pedals, stingingly tight percussion, and Anthony Green's well-known brand of specifically powerful vocalization, plus a warm torrential bass sound to give everything a backbone. The biggest technical improvement was, for me, Nick Beard's bass. It's a lot more noticeable on this album compared to Juturna, and it pays off. It manages to fit both the oft-wandering guitar sound and very tight drums, striking a very pleasant balance. If for some reason you've listened to Juturna and never picked up On Letting Go (probably a minority group at this point), understand that most of the gripes you might have had with the looseness of the sound have been addressed without losing the often spacey, dripping atmosphere of it all.
The structure of this album is a little confusing. Critically speaking, there are some things I would change. "Living Together" is what kicks us off, and it's definitely a great track, but any one of these songs could have exemplified the band's growth. This results in a track that starts off the album as if you should already be used to the sound, and what is still one of the album's best tracks is put in a position it doesn't feel right for. The next two tracks are tight, fresh, and both have something to say that grabs your attention. It might have done the overall feel good to move "The Greatest Lie" to later in the album, where things slow down a bit because it's a track that just feels right. You then reach the album's most well-known song and single "The Difference Between Medicine and Poison Is in the Dose." Like the whole album, it's best listened to with good headphones or good monitors. It would be easy to lose some of the excellent guitar work and brilliant composition that allow this track to capture you so completely without a good system. Right after that, you get another gem, "Mandala," which has a jarringly interesting sound and lyrics that are definitely worth paying attention to. The album slows down a bit from here forward, but I'm suspicious that this feeling is more a tribute to how great some of what came before it was. Enjoying this side of On Letting Go is much easier when you listen closely. The song-by-song personality is still there, just not quite as obvious as it might have been. The title track is the biggest standout, with some truly powerful moments. Eventually you'll end up on the final track, "Your Friends Are Gone." This is arguably the best song on the record, and a great way to finish up. It starts as one of the more poppy sounding songs, and at the same time features some of the more intense guitar work and creativity. I'm certain this track will remind you just how experimental this sound it. The real achievement of this song is how perfectly the build-up nature of the song works; every new part feels like the natural place to go while still surprising you. They use all of the 5:27, and the track runs masterfully well. It's probably the placement I'm most pleased with, as it does a perfect job of wrapping up what you just heard, and arriving at a magnificent track.
I would very much like recommend everyone try this record, as it does everything well, and some things extremely well. It's not straight forward, but the more spins you give it, the more you'll find.
I have actually been listening to this album since it came out,
and i've never grown tired of it yet.
One of my favorite bands handsdown.
I'm also looking forward to new material:D
CAN'T WAIT!
I have actually been listening to this album since it came out,
and i've never grown tired of it yet.
One of my favorite bands handsdown.
I'm also looking forward to new material:D
CAN'T WAIT!
Ferreal dude. They need to create more hype than they have for the one that's supposedly coming out soon. I'm pumped.
Well their on Atlantic now, so hopefully we'll see plenty of promotion closer to release. Also they have been posting youtube videos that are so puzzlingly well-shot we can probably count on a DVD "Making Of" type of thing.
Well their on Atlantic now, so hopefully we'll see plenty of promotion closer to release. Also they have been posting youtube videos that are so puzzlingly well-shot we can probably count on a DVD "Making Of" type of thing.
They've been posting all kinds of studio updates with what they're doing, and it sounds awesome. Maybe they'll merge them all onto a DVD that will come with the CD. I hope that is the case.
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