Odd Soul - Sounds like like a song that Led Zepelin would write. Great guitar riff. Choppy and wide open drum groove is very interesting. Great vocal effect on Paul's voice. This groove is deep. This song has some serious soul for four white dudes. Here comes the bridge... It's getting freaky. These dudes are too creative. Now back to the 70's guitar riffs, octaves galore. Finally the drums lock into a more regular straight ahead groove. Been waiting for the the whole time. Serious tension and release with that drum part over the corse of this song and serious head bobbing at the end. GREAT song.
Prytania - This is a new sound for MuteMath. You can tell these guys are going for a specific "sound" on this record. More edgy and raw than records in the past. Sounds more like analog tape but I doubt it is. Who knows. Snare sound on this song sounds more thin than in the past but I like it. This band is really growing into their own. This record already sounds very mature for them in new and exciting ways. Major chord surprise on that hit there on the end of the bridge. Nice surprise. Not sure what to make of this song yet, but I'm sure it will grow on me. Paul's vocals keep getting better. As a band, these guys are so serious and such hard workers. You can hear it on every album.
Blood Pressure - More 70's sounding guitar riffs. I love it. This song has a serious vibe. "Why can't you do a little more for Jesus". Interesting line. I think they are still trying to exercise the demons of their fundie past in Christianity. I would LOVE to hear from them on where they are at with their faith now. Great major7th chord sound coming out of the chorus. Gives the song a really nice lift and different contrast to the darker side of this song. This song rocks with great riffs and guitar tones. Again, the "sound" of this record is really consistent. Sounds great. I am three songs in and very very impressed.
Tell Your Heart Heads Up - Great drum groove. These drums sounds are good. More amazing guitar riffs. This record could take this band to the next level. Chorus opens WAY up sonically. Great bgvs. Interesting singing/talking on the verses. Here comes the rock organ! Nice. These guys are freaks when it comes to interesting grooves. This song is sonically busy but it's not too much. Again, the sound is consistent but remains very interesting. Not bored at all. Great falsetto vocal riff. On first listen this is my second favorite song thus far. Weird ending melting into the next song...
All or Nothing - This song is turning a corner on the record is seems. More gentle tone. Paul's vocal melodies are new and different on this record. You can tell he is trying to break out of old patterns for his writing. Still sounds like him, just a better him. Great growth. AWESOME chord changes on the chorus. These guys have a melancholy beauty to their writing that I resonate greatly with. This band continues to wow me with each record. Thus far, this one has taken it all to the next level. Edgy and beautiful all at the same time. This is very unique combination that makes MuteMath stand out. Interesting sine lead (synth tone) riff. This is building nicely. I am sensing a sonic explosion coming... Here it comes... Now we are in the land of the 80s. Fast forward a decade! I like it a lot though. 80s are cool again, or at least these guys are making it cool again.
Sun Ray - The vibes! Nice. Spacey and mellowed out. These guys like the reverb on this song. I think this might be an instrumental. Now it opens up and feels more dry. These guys must have been watching awkward 70's documentaries a lot while recording this record. Sounds great.
Allies - More huge guitar octave riffs. Grooving deeply. This song is a serious funktastik blast. Key change! Wow. Didn't see that coming. Cool!!!! Again, for four whites dudes, these boys can lay down some nasty good beats. I can tell that this record is going to be play non-stop for about two months at my house. Darrin's drumming is so unique. He has such a "voice" as a drummer by the way the tones are mixed and the way that he plays. This is very unique as a drummer. Not many drummers have a "voice" that you can hear and point out within seconds of hearing it. This certainly is one thing that sets MuteMath apart as a band. This song is my third favorite thus far. Super fun.
Cavalries - Nice feel in 3. Have not had that yet I don't think. Don't know what to say about this track. Not my favorite compared to the other tracks. Ok... Now they are totally changing it up with wild drum circle groove. Whoa! Roy just got crazy with some mad bass lines. The funk is getting deep in here now. I love it. I am laughing right now at how much of a party this record is. Dark but really fun. Oh my. Darrin's fills are blowing my mind. Organ!!! Yes! Rock. Back to the feel in three. Holy cow. This song is going to be NUTS live in concert. What a cool change of pace. I like this song now.
Walking Paranoia - Whoa. Crazy feel on the intro to this song. Dude. The 70's riffs keep coming. Great riffs. Jimmy Page would be proud. Very proud. I think this song might be also about their dysfunctional Christian past. But I can't quite tell. Can't totally understand the lyrics. But great chords changes on the chorus. I keep waiting for them to have a song on here that is a complete dud, but don't have one yet. The creativity on this record is staggering. More 70's tones. These guys must have taken a time machine back to 1973. Interesting vocals on the end there.
One More - Ok, this song is not my favorite of all the ones I have heard thus far. Dig the nice phat rock organ tones. Again, the sound of this record is very consistent. I think this is hard for bands to do and keep the thing interesting. They are completely accomplishing that feat. Great dry and broken down section there. This song is sonically less busy that many of the others. Good for the ears. Ok, now it is getting busy and rockin' again. This song is good but not my favorite. The melody doesn't quite grab me like the others have. But still the interest level is still quite high just based on the amazing musicianship.
Equals - Wow. Deep bass riff. I like how this song is landing. Funky intro and then total change of pace. This song has many sonic surprises with different tones, melodic variations, and drum patterns. It's many changes in one song but still doesn't feel schizophrenic. Just very interesting and you find your ear waiting to be pleasantly surprised by what is going to come next. At this point in the record you have built trust with them that when they change it up it is going to be really cool. There they just did it again. This is the fourth major shift in one song and I loved it. Not exactly the "pop" formula. I say screw the pop formula. Here comes the deep funk again. I am laughing again. I love this. This record is SO fun. You have to get it. Wow. This song is blowing my mind. Again, this will be amazing live. So many different fun changes within one song. Sounds more like a jam band song. This is a symphony of funk...
Quarantine - Ok, I totally messed this up. They moved into this song and I didn't even realize it. No break. I am three minutes in and I thought we were still on the previous song. Still the rock/funk symphony continues. Whatever happened is fine with me. I can't get enough of this record. Hands down my favorite MuteMath record of all of them thus far and that is a lot since I think the previous three are lights out. This song just completely changed. They are morphing in and out of different musical themes like a chameleon on crack. I so want to hear this record live. It will be amazing for sure. Great drum/programming outro.
In No Time - More beautiful melodies from Paul. His vocals sound really healthy and full in his raspy kind of way. Again, I think I am hearing him wrestle with the Christian past. I would love to sit down for a cup of coffee with these dudes and talk about it. There is such pain but they want to revive their faith. Probably just don't know how. I was hearing them express these themes in the last record but on this one I think they are coming to more fruition. This song has a soft beauty to it. A hopefulness to it that is different than the other songs. GREAT chord changes there on the chorus (I think it's the chorus?) to perk up the ear. I love those little surprises. I can sense we are building to a sonic peak here. The crescendo is increasing. What a great way to end the record on such a hopeful note. This is really moving.
I'm sure it's clear if you have read this far that this recording is blowing my mind. I'm sure it will do the same for you. Give it shot. I am going to go now and listen to it again.
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