This album starts off with “Jet”, and it’s a very determined intro. Right off the bat, I have to say this is a whole lot more energy and certainly a lot more heart than anything on the band’s last album. Now, they still obviously, wear their influences on their shoulders in a VERY big way. But they also bring a lot of new, fresh sounds to the table as well. I love the very passionate and explosive chorus, and the cautious and quiet, yet solid verses. I can’t remember them every sounding this punchy and unified honestly, and in that respect, it really makes me happy to hear. “Jet” is seriously well written, and while it certainly isn’t rewriting anything in the Emo or Post-Hardcore playbook, it still works well. But instantly I’m absolutely baffled by the shimmering and quite frankly obnoxious refrain on “In The Middle of It All”., The rest of the track is pretty decent, with its thumping and acoustic guitars which are obviously out of Brand New’s playbook. But I feel like everything melodic about this track is flopping hard. They just keep returning to this incredibly awkward refrain, and I don’t know what they were thinking. The verses are solid, the playing is fine, and the vocals are passionate. But that chorus should have never seen the light of day. The very sluggish pace of this album continues with “As You Please”, but that’s not necessarily my issue with this one. No, this is just painfully bland as far as lyrics go. And as far as vocals go, it might be even blander. I’m not into these much more downtrodden and hazy vocals, I can barely even make out what they’re saying half the time. Match all of that with the very sluggish, drawn-out tone of this track and holy Hell is this boring. So while Citizen is off to a rocky start, they do start reeling me back in with “Medicine”. This one, on the other hand, has a great deal of tension and Post-Hardcore influences that I haven’t heard just yet. It’s slow still, this isn’t going to speed up anytime soon. But it’s passionate, explosive, and actually really catchy. But I think the patient is the best word to describe this one. I mean, these instrumentals are just so slow and intense, and a whole lot more impactful than other material I’ve heard from Citizen. Then we have the vocals, which I’ve already pointed out are pretty catchy. But this is the sort of melodic passage that I feel like would have been so great on their last album. The solos are on point, the crescendos are explosive, and everything about “Medicine” is just so hard hitting.
Now, for the most part, this is a very slow album. But “Ugly Luck” does pick up a bit. But while it is more upbeat, it’s just as tension-filled and explosive. I actually love the break up on the instrumentals as this one brings in a bunch of new instrumentals we haven’t heard yet. Now, let’s be honest, the chorus here isn’t nearly as punchy or catchy. But I think the very determined and upbeat verses, as well as the solid playing on this track, do save it. So “Ugly Luck” just sort of ends up being alright. It’s not bad, but it’s certainly not Citizen coming out of their comfort zone either. Up next is “World”, and apparently, I must be in 1997 again, because this one sounds like a serious Alt-Rock throwback. But with the band’s already throwback Emo and Post-Hardcore sounds, it goes over really freaking well. I love the swirling guitars and the absolutely gigantic chorus, and just how tight the playing is during verses. I feel like this is literally the perfect sound for the band. It’s still slow and patient, but it’s constantly giving you reasons to stay compelled. This album’s a little hit and miss for sure, but when it’s good, it’s Citizen at their very best. “Fever Days” continues to have a whole lot of very retro vibes. But I think Citizen work nicely with all of them. I mean hell, they’re bringing in the warmness and “First Day of Autumn” vibes of late 90’s Emo. So yea, I can’t like, I’m really impressed with a lot of this track. Not to mention, I really have to say I can’t remember the last time they sounded so damn passionate. Like, “Fever Days” is HUGE sounding, especially at that chorus. Now, there’s still going to be plenty of people who really aren’t feeling all of this, and that’s fine. But for some Old School and explosive Post Hardcore with more than a little Ego thrown in, this is decent. Then we have “Control”, which is by far the most sluggish track yet. But the real shocker here is the synths. It’s just something I really wasn’t expecting to hear here. It’s not overwhelming though, and it ends up sounding really well. For a sluggish tune, it just comes off emotionally so exhausted, but in a really good way. Each guitar is just weeping and the atmosphere is just so gloomy and lonely feeling. So call me nuts, but once again I’m totally feeling what Citizen are doing.
Sadly, the last four tracks here are just as flimsy as the first four. “Discrete Routine” as soon as it revs up sounds so cheesy in every way. I’m usually not too critical of their more high pitched vocals, but everything here is ridiculously sappy. Hearing them among this very gentle and sweet atmosphere is quite frankly really rough. There are a few cool moments in the instrumentals, but overall “Discrete Location” just comes off so safe. Even in the last minute when things get more chaotic I can barely keep interested. Then we have “I Forgive No One”, an instantly this track shows Citizen at their most aggressive. I love the production on this one and the swirling instrumentals with it. But I think what makes this one work is just how passionate the performances are and continue to be. Say what you will about Citizen, but when they’re on, they are ON. The sheer heaviness of the acoustic guitars are brilliant, and the guys absolutely sound tortured as they pound their way through this one. The heavy synths continue to be a major part of this album with “You Are A Star”, but it’s really not a good sound for the band. This very bare atmosphere on this one makes them sound like they’re going for a sound mirroring Brand New’s “Daisy”. I mean, eventually it does pick up, but I’m so sick of these sluggish and boring tunes. At least some of the earlier tunes here were punchier and more explosive. “You Are A Star” does have a handful of moments that do stand out, and instrumentally it’s decent. But where is that passion I heard earlier? Then we have the album’s finale, “Flowerchild”. It has a pretty heavily strummed acoustic intro, and from the opening bars, I’m pretty excited for this one. As far as the atmosphere on this one goes, I really love a lot of what’s going on here. I love the longing, lonely lyrics that once again bring me back to that classic Emo vibe that I’ve been loving. And while this isn’t as blasting and powerful as some of the earlier tunes here, there are some really epic moments that lead to some pretty awesome passages. The group vocals are big, the Post-Hardcore influences are solid, and overall “Flowerchild” is a decent ending.
Rating: 7.4/10
Give A Listen To: "Jet", "Medicine", "World', "Fever Days"
Genre: Post Hardcore / Emo
Overall Thoughts: I mean, I wouldn’t say Citizen do anything too outrageously outside the box here. But I still think this is easily the best thing Citizen have done. The vocals are much more passionate, the production is thicker, and I feel like Citizen have found the perfect balance between their more Post Hardcore sound and their more Emo sound. Not to mention, the most important thing, they don’t sound like their desperately covering their influences anymore.
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