On
their seventh studio album I Am Gemini
(released 02/21/12) Cursive sounds just as verbose and melancholy as they did
with The Ugly Organ. That isn’t a veiled criticism, as a
matter of fact it is a huge compliment.
Over the years, Cursive has taken on many faces, worn many masks, and
written about a litany of concepts.
This newest album is no exception.
Written around the concept of twins separated at birth, this is the
heaviest Cursive album that I’ve heard in years. Tim Kasher (singer/songwriter) sounds younger by some
strange miracle as well. It is
wonderful to hear so much energy from a band that has been around for 18
years.
There
is a step up in terms of production as well. Cursive has always released interesting sounding albums, but
the songs on I Am Gemini sound huge
and still retain the strange sonic textures that have come to define the band
as much as their songwriting.
Right
away “This House Alive” (the first
track on the album) starts out strong.
Throwing in minor 2nds as interjections to the otherwise relatively
major chord progression. As the
album goes on we hear the friction and tension that these interjections provide
start to be a characteristic of Kasher’s voice. Towards the end of the album there is almost a low baritone
crooning more akin to The National (although it would not shock me to find out
that The National was influenced by Cursive’s vocal style). At the end of the album, my one complaint
is that I wish it lasted longer. Hopefully
Kasher and company follow up this album soon.
Listen to “This House Alive”
Get your copy of I Am Gemini on Vinyl!!
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