dan's jams - music reviews

Their first album, "Gift", was a strong and angsty kind of album, it has some melody, but more aggro, and i really liked that. The second album, "Welcome" swayed heavily into the melodicism, and while that wasn't bad in and of itself, the album never really captured me. This album builds on that melodicism, making it far more compelling and enjoyable, and pasting in some of the aggression of the first album. Somewhat a return to form of the first album while expanding the concepts of the second. interestingly, Billy Corgan has 3 songwriting credits on this album ("Violent Seas", "Lost in the Woods", and "Promise"), and those 3 songs are songs that don't really mean as much to me as the others do. They're alright for what they do, but they almost feel kind of poppy and major key, and these guys are at their best more groovy and minor key. Josh Mantranga of Far fame gets a co-write on "Calling", which was also the lead-off single, and it's quite well done. Angry sometimes, singable sometimes, and hooky. Overall, it's a strong album from top to bottom, and those who enjoyed either of the first albums over the other will still find lots here to enjoy.