I guess that's a fair point. I think "Nesting Dolls" is a much stronger and more interesting song in and of itself, and while it may be bookended by harder songs on either side, the way that portion of the record flows feels right to me. I can see your argument more with "Spirit" and "Think of Me," though.
A studio version of Resentment should have made an appearance on Appendage. I think that would have put it over the edge for me. Resentment is an incredible track
the old Ant version with just an acoustic on the rooftops is my fave Ant song. I think it's soooo much better than the demo. Was extremely disappointed it didn't come to fruition all those years ago.
Those two were mainly what I was referring to, specifically Spirit. I've expressed how I feel about that song in here already, so I'll spare that, haha. Nesting Dolls can work as a centerpiece, due to it's subject matter being the main theme of the record (getting clean, "I don't want to feel like this, ever"), but I just feel like Flesh and Bone works even better in the flow of the album, more so than any slower song since Kicking Your Crosses Down.
I love Descensus a lot and it has some of their best songs of the last 10 years, but it has the worst flow of all their albums imo. I don't love Nesting Dolls as a centerpiece the way everyone else seems to. I think it would've been a different story if it had been recorded the way they play it live (with that post-rock Explosions in the Sky esque outro instead of just abruptly ending). Who Will Lie With Me Now, ND, and Phantom (an incredible and memorable song on its own) just don't work on this album for me. I get that lyrically they are all consistent with the themes of Descensus, I just think their vibe is all wrong. Maybe they could've put out an EP with Phantom and Nesting Dolls, and put Awake in a Dream on Descensus instead.
the skeleton of Phantom is actually the extended bridge they used to play live in Stop the Car. It's alottt less good than the latter imo.
i used to hate nesting dolls and its placement but now its amazing and really does a good job dividing the album into acts. i feel like the songs before it are delving in addiction and guilt and after it is all about the slow and seemingly impossible grind of trying to overcome it (and realizing its a constant battle, it wont end) nesting dolls is like the realization. musically it eels like a song that captures the feel of snapping out of the high and staring straight at the guilt head on. "I don't want to feel like this ever again" has a sort of duality to it. It's abour trying to overcome but the way its sung sounds so shameful, and the way its repeated sounds like a constant struggle as if he keeps doing his vice over ans over despite his will to get better. It's like relapse in a way. Like an excuse. It's like telling yourself okay to do it because you're not gonna so it anymore after that. Hits home
There is definitely a feeling of divide, but song songs just sound like they're just there, like Only the Sun and Quiet Down
so, as i'm sure a lot of you have also felt considering the discography runs recently, for some reason this new album has really ignited an obsession with the band's entire discography for me. i have a new appreciation for their past work, and the addition of this new album has really seemed to make the catalog as a whole quite incredible, and more tempting than ever to binge on. i've made a playlist with all their albums and its super easy to put it on at work and listen through most of my shift, and so far no one is sick of it! (i'm lucky to be blessed with coworkers that have good taste in music haha.) it's just crazy that one album can shift your entire viewpoint on a bands entire body of work. luckily this time, it's for better and not for worse! i also think this album really compliments (by contrasting) Descensus and can help me appreciate that album a lot more (even though i liked it when it came out, it didn't really stick with me), since this one is quite different.
Nesting Dolls was so good played live that when I got in my car after the show it was the first song I listened to. It was the closer too so I'd like just heard it haha. I don't even think I typically listen to music after shows either
pre show i like to listen to everything except the band I'm going to see, then post show i like to listen to a lot of what we heard live. The immediate nostalgia is pretty awesome.
Decent and long Amulet review from someone who seems to be a long time fan Album Review: Circa Survive - 'The Amulet' - The Alternative
i just realized we are almost to 2500 posts and 100 pages on this thread, that's awesome! doesn't happen too often for an album thread. i'm glad to see everyone so interested in Circa again!
I've always thought Circa was considered interesting on this site/AP, but this thread has been great and there gave been some wonderful discussions. Glad to be a part of it.
Just got home and my vinyls were there waiting for me. The deluxe cover is really really cool. Really like the back cover on th standard as well. Esao fucking slaying it as always.
After another listen, my thoughts on this album sadly haven't gotten much better. Just blends together too much for me, From track 2-6 I really just feel like the same thing is happening. Something about the near wall-of-sound production just makes it so muddy to my ears and doesn't give any instrument or voice much chance to actually shine, just kinda all mixed together. Anyway, Rises of Investiture is easily my favorite track on here
this has continued to grow on me. i was in a stage where i'd just listen to my favorites but i'm putting on full album listens now and getting excited for more songs.