L'album d'esordio, dopo l'Ep "Silence is Golden", dell'ennesima band emo odierno risulta al primo impatto un album decisamente canonico rispetto ai dettami dell'ormai esteso (troppo… quand'è che le major si decideranno a produrre nuove "mode"??) panorama emotional, genere in cui il quartetto californiano pone i propri credo musicali.
Dire canonico non vuol proprio indicare banalità ed uniformità. Prendono spazio sfumature di vari sapori. Per citarne alcune, quelle che mi son sforzato di trovare: l'attacco di batteria di "The Predication" pare provenga dal metal più profondo; archi romantici ed "emozionali" in "A Night To Remember, A Morning" e "Streetcar"; chitarre che nel bridge di "Summer So Bleak" strizzano l'occhio al Prog Metal; base ritmica a tratti particolarmente potente in "99 With An Anchor"; sottofondo di pianoforte ipnotico e tastiere dai sentori metal di sponda power d'ultima generazione, nella track di chusura, nonché title-track, "Things Aren't So Beautiful Now, pt. 2".
Non si può dire che nel complesso l'album non ricordi qualcosa di già sentito (Yellowcard o My Chemical Romance o Something Corporate o Bullet For My Valentie) ma, nonostante ciò, la sensazione è che sia un album discretamente prodotto, successione di pezzi comunque ben costruiti ma che dopo svariati ascolti tenderanno ad annoiare, fans accaniti a parte. Pezzi che nascono, si evolvono e si chiudono in modo "manieristico" per i canoni del genere però pezzi che sono orchestrati con buon orecchio e sensibilità musicale.
Un difetto, per me evidente, è la sufficienza della voce: rispetto alle atmosfere e linee ritmiche e melodiche degli strumenti, il singer è in deciso distacco.
In attesa del loro secondo lavoro… cazzo, è la seconda volta che mi ascolto di fila l'album e ne ho già abbastanza. Penso che il secondo album ormai imminente, "It's Hard to Move You", proprio non lo ascolterò.
In definitiva, per ora e per quanto possiamo sentire, questi quattro giovincelli non portano niente di nuovo nel tormentato mondo musicale.
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 99 With an Anchor (03:31)
I can see the pressures on you,
It's affecting everything you do.
You want out, you want out.
Did you know it tears me in two,
To obsess on everything you lose?
You want out, you want out.
And I'll keep you waiting,
Where this life is so unfair.
You want out, you want out.
Let my fingers around your neck,
Until the shadows are dancing around you now,
Fingers only to track you down.
Waiting for someone to pull you across the rain.
Did this wait for me [x2]
Chasing off your wicked suffering,
Maybe freeing you.
I'll be to far away from you,
To wonder how you sing (anything you want.)
Everytime I think of you, (Eyes are open)
Eyes are open now. (All the things we've had to do.)
Eyes are open, eyes are open.
Did this wait for me [x2]
(I'll let you walk away, right now, right now)
Chasing off your wicked suffering
Maybe freeing you
We all have, we all have someone..
You wanted, you wanted more...
Now..
Everyday, you cry over me
You said to me, that you can't be left alone
Everything that has come to mind
Will you help you find words... (it's the last time I told you)
Everything you want is over now.
02 February (02:48)
My home shrinking in the distance (It's just my time to leave, it's not the time to cry)
I'm leaving for all reasons (Did you think before you got it)
Every time you breathe I hope you think of me
Those are the words you told me, told me
No question why'd I'd have to leave (I guess it's time to leave)
One reason I restored with sleep (I'll think of what I'll see)
This moment feels like destiny (I want to tell you why)
Won't you tell me, tell me?
You want me to always remember
I promised I always will
You'll watch and wait for my return
I promised I'm coming home
For all the lonely nights when your not feeling alone
Look towards the midnight sky and wish the sunrise
This the life we live, the only one that we know, these things just never ends, never ends
You want me to always remember
I promised I always will
You'll watch and wait for my return
I promised I'm coming home
You know that I can't resist this (It's not the time to grieve. It's not the last goodbye)
I'm destined for roads unknown (Did you think before we got it)
Every time you breathe I hope you think of me
Those are the words you told me, told me
So when will it end?
When will it end?
When will it end?
When will it end?
Sometimes I don't know
Where I am
Where I'll be
Feels like I'm so far
Far away
Far away
From home
04 Next of Kin (02:52)
Forgive
Remember the things I promised you
Forgotten to love you, you know its true
I tumble then fall for you
The truth now lies in angry eyes
This time I'll pay the price
Pay the price to rise
This feelings got to go
This pain just takes it's toll
If you need me, let me know
I'm here for you
This feelings got to go
This pain just takes it's toll
If you need me, let me know
I'm here for you
All my life I learned from you
The lessons I've learned are never through
I'm sorry my father
Your heart, my hand
Not breaking it again
I'm sorry, I'm sorry
This will be the end
Do you ever think of me? (You follow it underneath your skin)
Where do we go to find what's within?
Just let it go, always within
(What lies)
Always in you
It falls apart
In caves inward
I'm the only one who floats below the rest
Of the angels, of the angels, of the angels
This feelings got to go
This pain just takes it's toll
If you need me, let me know
I'm here for you
This feelings got to go
This pain just takes it's toll
If you need me, let me know
I'm here for you
05 The Prediction (03:07)
Watch this slow death
Rewind this up
Rewind this up for good
Pulled out from under
Your crashing your cover now
(Oh, were feeling lost in the dark)
It's the end of it all
We know it's only our(my) fault
Pulled out from under
Your crashing your cover now
(Feeling lost in the dark)
Trapped in the wreckage
Surrounded by part of the friends I lost..
I'm watching you all
I'm trying to call out but I just can't
(provide the words.. that your longing for..)
My soul is leaving my body behind
I'm trying just to talk to you
Why, why, this is the end of my life
I didn't get to talk to you..
You cry at the funeral
I'm crying above you
The wind on your face
And the rain on your back
I'll be there, I'll be with you..
Watch this slow death
Rewind this up
Rewind this up for good
Pulled out from under
Your crashing your cover
(Oh, we're feeling lost in the dark)
It's the end of it all
We know it's only our(my) fault
Pulled out from under
Your crashing your cover
(We're feeling lost in the dark)
Now we're floating away [x2]
And we're floating away (away, away...)
The fears I've had are floating away
The dreams I've had have come to pass [x2]
Carico i commenti... con calma
