Artist: Circa Survive
Album: On Letting Go
Label: Equal Vision
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: May 29, 2007
Overall: 9.0
Music: 9.5
Lyrics: 8.5
Production: 9.0
“Living Together,†is the first track off of Circa Survive’s newest release On Letting Go. With its creepy, catchy, reverb drenched guitars I often have to remind myself that I’m not listening to their debut album Juturna. Surprisingly, this song is nothing like the other 11 tracks off On Letting Go which are, in a sense, a step up from Juturna. Sure, there are the hauntingly beautiful melodies on On Letting Go that made the previous disc a hit, but there are also many different elements that are, in my opinion, very unexpected. Circa Survive consists of members; Anthony Green (vocals), Brendan Ekstrom (guitar), Colin Frangicetto (guitar), Nick Beard (bass), and Steve Clifford (drums).
The album in it’s entirety is very, very well written with none of the songs, in my opinion, on the boring or lackluster side. Stand-out tracks include; the acoustic, ballad-like “Kicking Your Crosses Down” where Green shows his best vocal performance on the album. Other stand-out tracks include “Semi Constructive Criticism” where it starts with Green singing a few words to 2 guitar chords and then speeds up so unexpectedly that it’s comparable to a kick in the face, if you will, then slows back down to the normal Circa Survive tempo. Then there is, in my opinion, the best track on the album “Your Friends Are Gone” which is also the most unique song on the disc. It begins with a fairly poppy guitar riff that you would never expect to hear from a band of this genre, and then picks up into a good paced, catchy song. Overall, I am very impressed with this release, and I would probably call it one of the best records of 2007.
Track Listing
1. Living Together
2. In The Morning And Amazing
3. The Greatest Lie
4. The Difference Between Medicine And Poison Is In The Dose
5. Mandala
6. Travel Hymn
7. Semi Constructive Criticism
8. Kicking Your Crosses Down
9. On Letting Go
10. Carry Us Away
11. Close Your Eyes To See
12. Your Friends Are Gone
After seeing this band preform at warped tour, which I believe is not a great venue for this band, I am really looking forward to a time when I can see them preform in a more intimate venue. Although that may take away all the condom balloons and triangle pit attempts. I think that Circa Survive is one of the strongest bands in their genre. Nice writing Brett.