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Prawn – Run

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by Melody Bot, Sep 22, 2017.

  1. Melody Bot

    Your friendly little forum bot. Staff Member

    This article has been imported from chorus.fm for discussion. All of the forum rules still apply.

    In 2003, The Appleseed Cast released Two Conversations, the followup to their critically acclaimed two-disc Low Level Owl project. Fans were disappointed. Two Conversations was decidedly more commercial than Low Level Owl; the ambiance was replaced with melody and, it seemed to fans, the band traded ambition for accessibility. It’s true that Two Conversations shifted away from the unrepentant post-rock sound of the Low Level Owl CDs, but it’s also true that it’s an impressive album in its own right, even if it isn’t what was expected out of The Appleseed Cast. Most have come around to that by now.

    I foresee something similar happening with Prawn’s new album, Run. 2014’s Kingfisher was unanimously praised on release by fans and critics alike. The record’s blending of emo and punk with post-rock made for an engrossing listen – one you can sing along to as well as brood to. Like Two Conversations, Run is a far more straightforward album than its predecessor. It’s more Into It. Over It. than Moving Mountains, let’s say – especially when the punk influence shines through on songs like “Empty Hands” and “Snake Oil Salesman.” The latter of which is a highlight on the record; Tony Clark shouting, “I know what you’ve been selling,” is one of the most fun moments in the band’s whole discography.

    Typically, though, Prawn hasn’t been a fun band. They’re always a pleasure to listen to, but rarely is their music so bouncy or jovial. Listening to the album’s lead single, “North Lynx,” is a reminder of that. Probably the only song on Run that could’ve fit on any of their earlier releases, it’s easily one of the best songs the band has ever released, a beautiful dynamic post-rock song. And it’s almost totally unrepresentative of the rest of the record. “Cricket in the Ward” is something of a bridge between the two sounds, a poppy indie rock track with a gorgeous post-rock bridge and “Greyhound” feels like latter-day Foxing, but for the most part, Run isn’t going to be what people expect out of Prawn, which is that’s the record’s biggest hurdle, ultimately. The songwriting is as tight as ever and Clark sounds better than ever, but fan expectation might be too hard to shake for the band. The only thing to hope is that it doesn’t take a decade for fans to come around.

     
  2. cwhit

    still emperor emo Prestigious

    hey @Zac Djamoos, the one thing that i find weird about the comparison to the appleseed cast is that two conversations is MASSIVE sounding, while this one sort of suffers from the rawer sound imo. but i guess you took that comparison in a different way than i did

    i hope this grows on me but after a month i still don't feel much pulling me back
     
  3. Hugo G.

    FKA whiterussian Supporter

    I haven't fallen in love with it as instantly as Kingfisher, but it's a great record and there will be plenty of time for other kinds of songs in the future. I love Prawn.
     
  4. Leftandleaving

    I will be okay. everything Supporter

    I mostly just meant from the stylistic shift. TC is my favorite TAC album but I'll likely always prefer KF to this one
     
  5. theagentcoma

    yeah good okay Prestigious

    Man, now I have to listen to TAC all night again.

    Also stoked on this album
     
  6. Hazelnutsack

    Irregular

    This was a grower but a very fast grower if that makes sense. After the 4th listen I have to admit as someone who's been in love with the band since they released You Can Just Leave It All that this might be their best album yet! They've never sounded more sure of themselves and confident, also if I want to listen to King Fisher or Ships then I can listen to them. What's great about this record to me IS that it isn't the same blueprint as the other albums in their discography. Variation and diversity are two things that keep me hooked on album after album by bands.
     
    Hugo G. likes this.
  7. Bartek T.

    D'oh! Prestigious

    Pretty similar feelings towards that album, it also reminds me of A Great Big Pile Of Leaves at times, where I definitely longed for that more post-rockish sound (Mov Mou for example is one of my absolute favorites, so I loved Kingfisher!), but I'm pretty open and I started enjoying it very fast as well : )
     
    Hazelnutsack likes this.