Circa Survive - The Amulet (September 22, 2017) Album • Page 80

That's probably the one Saosin thing I like more than Anthony Saosin honestly. I think that's probably the best Cove has sounded.

 

I’m the opposite, and upon revisiting Juturna again recently I think that album meanders waaaaaay less than people make it out to. Pretty much every song has a hook that is repeated. In fact, I like the vocal melodies on that record more than any other one. OLG and BSN May be more traditionally “catchy” but there are moments on both that kind of grate on me.

Edit: regarding the “OLG being better than Juturna in every way” talk.

 

If there's any song on Juturna that meanders, it's Always Getting What You Want.....and maaayyybe Wish Resign (I'm so sorry Your Milkshake)

 

It's mainly how it ends that leaves something to be desired for me. Always through House of Leaves are just kind of ... there for me.

It was really obvious going from House of Leaves into Living Together. Wasn't the music for Juturna written before Anthony joined the band, then he sang over existing songs, compared to him actually being a part of the writing process for OLG?

 

Wish Resign is incredible. AGWYW is my least favorite on the album, but my recent revisits have made me appreciate it more. There’s some incredible guitar work on it, especially h last chorus.

 

listening to OLG for the first time since The Amulet came out. The verses of Mandala kind of give me the same vibe that Lustration gives me. Crazy drums paired with fairly subdued guitars and vocals.

 

I think I like OLG more instrumentally than I do vocally. There are moments on that album where Anthony’s melodies just don’t click for me.

 

It's been talked about a lot, but i think Close Your Eyes to See is the only think that could be considered a "misstep" on that album. I'm going to go into it with an open mind this time around.

 

I would love to hear Kicking Your Crosses Down sung with the kind of restraint that Anthony has shown he's capable of on The Amulet.

 

Heh heh

how tho?

I think the only tracks that meander by definition are House of Leaves (bless up), Glorious Nosebleed, and Stop the Car. But meandering in these cases is living and breathing inside a groove and atmosphere instead of moving on to the next verse or chorus. It's what this band excels at. And now it's all over the Amulet too.

Juturna is very structured all things considered. OLG is more structured, yeah. I've often said the albums are like if someone wrote a structured and inspired post rock album with an amazing singer

 

completely no on your last question

 

I could've sworn reading that in interviews back before OLG came out that it was going to be more cohesive because of that. I could be wrong. I wouldn't have my old APs to fact check that anyway, haha.

 

I love Juturna, but I've always thought that OLG strengthens and refines what they do on that album. Juturna shows the promise of the band; OLG delivers on it.

 

First song they wrote together was Handshakes. Colin literally picked Anthony up from the airport where he last minute ditched a flight to California to be full time with Saosin, and they went to jam. Not even all members of Circa were formed yet. Then they wrote Great Golden Baby and Suspending Disbelief next. This is early 2004. Anthony was there for all of it.

 

I feel like I sound more down on that album than I am. I really like it, I just think Juturna is better and does everything I like about this band perfectly.

 

okay so after researching, you're for sure right. Apparently they hadn't played many (or maybe none) shows when juturna was released, so OLG was the first one they wrote after actually touring together off of Juturna.

 

listened through all 6 LPs on my Bose Headphones. So hearing them all in the same context and the same volume here are my rankings for now. can change any day

1. Juturna- This album is one of the most important records of my youth. I love how there is so much going on with the guitars at all times, tons of melodic clashing but somehow it all works. incredible debut, very impressive record. This record was everything to me Sr year of high school and it still holds up. This is the band that all my friends strived to be and failed at.

2. The Amulet- going to get heat for this, but I really think this is my number two. I really love this album, the melodies speak to me and I LOVE the guitar tones. The band feels very mature here and its the album I always wanted them to write after Juturna.

3. Blue Sky Noise- All circa albums take me back to a specific time and place and this one is no different. I remember the singles, I remember being excited to grab this one on Itunes at midnight when it came out. I remember texting my friend John and knowing he would lose his mind on through the desert. It is now his favorite circa song. I remember dealing with some real dark stuff emotionally and this album helping me process some stuff that was going on with me. Very important album to me.

4. On Letting Go- Coming back to this reminded me how much I loved this one when it came out. I think this bad boy streamed on MySpace when it came out and I remember listening to it over and over again until it was released. I was amazing by Anthonys vocal performance on this album and I think its really great the band took some risks here. I can see why this is many people's favorite even if it doesn't resonate with me as well I still love it.

5. Descensus- I remember the hype for this album as being the "heaviest" circa record. It didn't disappoint, the vocals are so urgent and the guitars are nice and crunchy. They experimented with some song structures and wrote some of their best material for me. The only reason why its so low is because the other 4 records are so fantastic, tough to choose which ones are the best. I remember hearing the outro to "child of the desert" on a teaser or something and just thinking, WTF is this, wow. Great album and an essential part of their discography.

6. Violent Waves- My immediate reaction to the YouTube leak of this album was that it was going to be one of their best. I thought that they were doing a ton of cool stuff that they hadn't done yet, a song like suitcase and think of me when they sound were so fresh sounding. The guitars were spacey and atmospheric and it hit me immediately. Over time I soured on the album a bit and it was pushed back, however I really enjoyed listening to the record today and was reminded of some of the brilliant moments it contained. Phantasmagoria is the only song that I'm still not 100 percent sold on, not really sure if this song hits the mark for me. The lyrics feel a bit too on the nose. Still really glad this album exists and can see myself coming back to it more now than I have over the last few years.

this band has an incredible discography. I think they have moved up into my second tier and may be pushing their way into my favorites. Glad we got a new record from this year, and happy to put it up there with their best work.

 

Wouldn’t be my ranking, but you got the right one first so it’s good in my eyes ;p

 

It's crazy for me to think my old username was circa1628 on AP, created right after OLG had come out. Now they're on their 6th record. That's wild

 

I know I have On Letting Go a lot lower than most people. I love the album but there are a few things about the production I don't love and take me out of the songs at times.

 

I don't agree with your rankings(we do have the same bottom two though) however I really enjoyed this!

 

so hard to rank! any of those top 5 really can be switched around for me except Juturna. For a while I had descensus as my number 2, not sure why it has dropped off for me but I'm more or less ranking by which ones I enjoyed the most on that last listen through. I feel like it could change if I did it again which I may before seeing them in November.

 

Yeah I feel like debating different albums merits with y'all is fun. We all like most of the albums, but personal preferences put other albums higher than others for the most part.

 

OLG
Juturna
Amulet
Descensus
BSN = VW

 

Still working my way through the discog (currently on BSN) but i think I'm:
OLG
Amulet
Descensus
Juturna
BSN
Violent Waves

Descensus and Amulet really revived my love for this band. Also Descensus - BSN in my ratings could probably just be =