There Will Be Fireworks – “River”

Singing loud enough to wake the dead, not enough now that you’ve left

There’s a lot of factors that go into making great music, and too often I believe we focus on the wrong things.  Intricacy and technical prowess can only get you so far; the best bands in the world aren’t the ones that shred the fastest, create the most complex drum fills, or experiment the farthest with electronics.  They’re the ones that can tap into our human side and appeal to our vulnerability, to serve as a reminder that we’re not alone in our experiences – whatever they may be.  Only a few bands have “it”, and There Will Be Fireworks are one of them.

For proof I’m going to look no further than “River”, the second track on the group’s surprisingly underground The Dark, The Bright – an album that deserved all of the acclaim in the world and for some reason got ignored.  “River” is not a track you can easily shake after hearing it once: it comes rushing in on the heels of “And Our Hearts Did Beat”, and you can immediately tell that the song can’t wait to explode. And it doesn’t take very long to indulge, either – just after the 1 minute mark, singer Nicky McManus belts out, “We used to talk, you used to have me round…I used to sing for you” and you can feel the desperation dripping from every word.  From that moment on, he pretty much shouts every word – somehow becoming even more poignant with every new verse, every additional refrain.  It’s the kind of moment capable of defining a song, album, or even an entire band – the point where the fulcrum tips from dejected croons to simply not giving a fuck anymore, screaming the pain out just to eject it from your mind and body…a cleansing.

That’s what “River” is, too – this powerful, sweeping, cathartic moment capable of rendering one speechless.  It’s not because of the guitars or drums alone, nor McManus’ vocals (although they’re a big part of it) – it’s the raw sincerity behind it all that drives every aspect of the track to excellence.  Not all emotional musical is believable, but the whole of The Dark, The Bright is undeniable.  The best artists have heart – and that’s something that shines through in spades on “River.”

Read more from this decade at my homepage for Sowing’s Songs of the Decade.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5JjmQsvmmmOBFnUjP7FLu4