Review Summary: It's music, that's what it is. Music at it's finest.
Something happened when I first listened to Colors by Between the Buried and Me. A surreal sensation.. a musical revelation. The most inexplicable thing I have heard in years. When the 64 minute charge of human-detestion ended, when the last held key on the piano was silenced, I felt something so damn powerful occuring within me. I had an urge to celebrate, and so I did (the only way I knew how), and I clicked the repeat button . . .
Foam Born A) The Backtrack, B) The Decade of Statues (Colour: Orange)
Informal Gluttony (Colour: Green)
Sun of Nothing (Colour: Yellow)
Ants of the Sky (Colour: Red)
Prequel to the Sequel (Colour: Aqua)
Viridian (Colour: Blue)
White Walls (Colour: Purple)
Between the Buried and Me HAS created a masterpiece. Not only is this the best album I have heard in ages, but it's from a band I thought I had seen all of. Selkies: The Endless Obsession was my first experience with the band, and even that song on it's own is amazingly impressive. I truly considered that song being my favourite song of all-time, but now that I've heard Colors, I am absolutely certain that this 64 minute album (in which each song connects with the next) is more amazing than anything else I have heard, musically and lyrically. In fact, if you just listen to the music without the lyrics, you are only getting half the experience.
The album seems to revolve around a very bleak outlook on human life, but a true one at that. It made me see things in humans I had never even considered. I'm sure you've all heard your own music that reflects on the human race, but trust me when I say you haven't heard anything like this. With such powerful words, it'd be hard not to feel somewhat empty or, or ashamed to be a human... because not only will you recognize all the faults in the people you know, you will even realize that you are just the same. In covers every aspect of all seven sins, but not in a traditional way. We are not a perfect civilization, that would be impossible, but we are not only imperfect - we are a selfish, we are gluttonous, we are each and all a white wall.... we are simply puppets for a greed-driven carnival.
Of course, non of these concepts would be important without fantastic music to back it up. This album is both high-quality and slightly inventive, adding things like monkey's on the track "Informal Gluttony", weird nursery-rhyme chanting in the song "Sun of Nothing" and a Hoe Down in the song "Ants of the Sky". Actually it's moments like these in the songs that make the album extremely memorable. On top of these really cool ideas, you have excellent diversity in the instruments with an accordian making an awesome apperance in "Prequel to the Sequel" a violin in multiple songs and a piano that both introduces and exits the album.
As for standard intruments, the guitarist and drummer both have their esteemed moments at extremely powerful climaxes in the songs. Expert drum fills, and sweeping guitar solos made my appreaciation even greater. As for the vocals, this guy gets the screaming job done, but when he really shines are during the harmonious parts ("Feeeed me feeeaar") and ("In yooouurr mind, you caaan flyyyy.") This is seriously amazing stuff. I seldom hear a band work so goddamn well in conjuction as this momumentally talented quintet.
So overall, there is no one thing that sticks out most to be. Every aspect and facet of this epic album is commendable and worth hearing if you geniunely don't mind some metal. On second thought, what would you call this? Is it jazz, is it experimental? What is it really?
It's music, that's what it is. Music at it's finest. I'm surprised more people haven't exactly bought into this young 'turn-of-the-century' band, but as far as music goes, they are beyond skillful. A couple years down the road these guys will be true legends, as evident by following THIS album up with the equally impressive "The Great Misdirect".
~ Individual Song Ratings ~
Foam Born A) The Backtrack -- 7/10
B) The Decade of Statues -- 7.5/10
Informal Gluttony -- 9/10
Sun of Nothing -- 9.5/10
Ants of the Sky -- 8.5/10
Prequel to the Sequel -- 8.75/10
Viridian -- 8/10
White Walls -- 10/10
* These ratings do not add up to equal a perfect 5/5, but I believe the album is greater than the sum of it's parts.
Hats off to you, BTBAM!
