Circa Survive - The Amulet (September 22, 2017) Album • Page 49

The best part of The Lottery is that it reminds me to revisit Thursday's discography

 

Lotterys fine. I can dig it.

My Only Friend wastes such an amazing OLG sounding verse on an otherwise completely boring song.

 

Anthony has repeatedly stated that he deeply regrets writing/recording the first 3 LPs the way he did. Juturna and On Letting Go are awe-inspiring, amazing studio records that sort of have an unreality or surreal feel to them. They are absolutely untouchable as dank studio albums, but the way they have always been performed live (even 2006-2008) is much more similar to what Will Yip gets out of them and I think in that specific context, Will Yip's are inherently less spectral and eerie and intense af. Blue Sky Noise is one that I still have trouble listening to as a whole. There are some great songs on there, but I really have always disliked the extra crispy production on Ant's vocals. The instrumentals are so solid, but Ant seems way too close to the surface in every song like his vocal track is sitting on top of the rest of it, and that has always put it at the bottom of my list regardless of its greatness in lots of other areas. (also his lyrics aren't conceptually stellar in the same way as the others on BSN imo) ((here's lookin' at you, I felt Free and Imaginary Enemy and Spirit ;0)).

The Amulet does what it does really well and I think the band and Yip have done a great job at bringing back some of the surreal atmosphere of the first two LPs, but again I think it still has that live vibe of Violent Waves and Descensus in the vocal department which does tend to mute Ant's impossibly high-soaring-highs. Muting the highs is a good move for them in order to preserve the integrity of their live shows and to ensure that Ant can actually perform them whatsoever, but idk I guess I do feel like The amulet suffers somewhat for it the same way that Violent Waves and Descensus do.

I still give the Amulet 5 safecamps out of 5 because there are just so many dank moments.

Juturna = On Letting Go = The Amulet >Violent Waves > Descensus > Blue SKy Noise

 

no he's only said that about OLG. I know what you're talking about. Hes said starting several years ago that he'd change some things (he definitely never said or implied "deep regret" either) about his vocals on that album if he were doing it now.

 

How did they perform them that was different?

 

I don't know if they'd ever be able to top OLG for me. That is a record I consider a top 3 favorite of all-time. It is a massive component of why I love the band as much as I do. That being said, I feel that even their weakest record is still better than a lot of band's best. I probably like Circa more than most people outside of this thread, as they are my favorite band, but I genuinely believe they are one of the best active rock bands in the world.

 

Hey Kelsey is my name!

 

For some reason, I always kinda think that I like Violent Waves less than I actually do. Every time I go back and listen to it, I re-remember how great it is

 

re remember eh?

 

I love the head voice and falsettos on this, after listening with the singer of my band apparently Anthony is using both here a ton.

 

Literally had this moment this morning, it's way better than I remember

 

I can relate to this. It's probably my least favorite, but I still really enjoy it. Could do without Phantasmagoria though

 

You are my nemesis on this site for the disrespect you showed my epic BSN playlist, but you're right about OLG. ;)
Only thing I don't like about that record aside from a few production complaints is I would have taken Carry Us Away off the tracklist. It's kinda needless.

 

Phantasmagoria's freak out is one of the best Circa moments thooooo

 

Anthony's voice is almost too clean on "on letting go".. I love the record but I think that's a lot when was meant earlier when someone said it's not possible to perform it that way live. He can hit the notes but not clean like that

 

He's not soaring as much on this album but he's hitting c sharps and ds on the regular.. you gotta believe that's effing high.

 

Okay that part is good I gotta admit haha

 

I used to not like Carry Us Away as much, but the drums on that track saved it for me.

 

that's why it's so good though, haha.

 

All three of those songs ...lottery, friend, phantasmagoria...all have good moments. I mean they are still circa songs. But overall. Totally just aight.

 

I like Carry Us Away. It's a really good song and used to be one of my favorites years ago, but I actually kinda wish 1000 Witnesses had made the album in its place. I remember Anthony saying on the 10-year tour "Why didn't we put that shit on the record" after they played 1000 Witnesses lol. It was great.

 

Carry Us Away is great

 

Can't deny, the drums are good on that track.

 

I'm guessing from how you phrased that you didn't know that Colin wrote the lyrics for I Felt Free, and co-wrote the lyrics for Imaginary Enemy. Funny how much it stands out right? I always thought the same, but didn't actually know until I randomly found out a while back.

 

Im excited for this album. Every song so far has been great. I have the age old complaint of will yips production but song writing is stellar.