Fair to Midland
Arrows and Anchors


4.0
excellent

Review

by Mikesn EMERITUS
July 15th, 2011 | 893 replies


Release Date: 2011 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Arrows & Anchors isn't quite as instant as its predecessors, but it flourishes with repeated listening.

As far as first impressions go, it was hard to make out exactly which direction Fair to Midland were trying to take on Arrows & Anchors. When I caught them live back in March, they played quite a few new tracks which came off as more intense than anything the band has done in a good ten years. But the Fair to Midland you hear on record is different from the raw, spastic creature that performs on stage. While live renditions of tracks like "Upgrade^Brigade," "April Fools and Eggman," and even "Walls of Jericho" were heavy rockers, in the studio they became more pristine and expressive (particularly on Fables From a Mayfly…). It was a completely different experience that traded in some of the frantic elements of the band's live show with a more immersive sound.

In many respects, Arrows & Anchors is a natural progression from Fables From a Mayfly; it attempts to bridge these two themes together, and for the most part, it does so rather seamlessly. After a short interlude, "Whiskey & Ritalin" kicks the album off with deceptively thrashy riffing before transitioning into a more melodic piece reminiscent of material off Fables From a Mayfly. Likewise, "Rikki Tikki Tavi" is a throwback to the band's alternative metal sound found on The Carbon Copy Silver Lining, but still incorporates soothing, lullaby-eqsue choruses, which make for a nice contrast. And while that's about as overtly metallic as Arrows & Anchors, it's still a louder record than one might expect. Still, the mellower flavour the band seemed to be trending towards on the previous record (as exemplified by the likes of "The Wife, the Kids, and the White Picket Fence" or "Say When") leave their mark on Arrows & Anchors. "Short-Haired Tornado" and "A Loophole in Limbo" aren't as immediate as their heavy rock counterparts, but they're built on the kind of immersive soundscapes and cryptic lyrical work that flourish with repeated listening.

If the album sounds a little conservative, well… it is. But Fair to Midland do step outside their comfort zone on occasion. "Amarillo Sleeps on My Pillow" and "The Greener Grass" are the more obvious standouts; the former opens with a unique folksy swagger, while the latter experiments with more longwinded, progressive elements. "The Greener Grass" utilizes the group's penchant for quiet/loud dynamics, particularly in its soaring choruses wherein vocalist Darroh Sudderth best displays his wide vocal range. Matt Langley enjoys a greater presence than in the past, such as in the dance-y, keyboard-heavy "Coppertank Island." Moments such as these aren't revolutionary, but they make for a nice change of pace that keeps Arrows & Anchors from becoming redundant. This isn't apparent right away, as Arrows & Anchors isn't quite as instant as its predecessors. However, its hidden nuances become more apparent with each listen, and it's this replay value that is Fair to Midland's greatest strength.



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user ratings (989)
4.1
excellent
other reviews of this album
Julianna Reed EMERITUS (2.5)
Relying on a blueprint that's inherently flawed is never the best idea....

Vooligan (4.5)
Beautiful, original and crushing, all at the same time. Arrows and Anchors is one of the best releas...

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Comments:Add a Comment 
themainmast
July 16th 2011


281 Comments


nice review. arrows and anchors is an album i've been repeatedly listening to.

mvood
July 16th 2011


818 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

this is like Mew going hard rock

TheLodge
July 16th 2011


42 Comments


^^ that sounds pretty cool.

iTechTonic
July 16th 2011


1 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

i just checked out this album and it is actually pretty awesome...love the track "coppertank island"....

mvood
July 16th 2011


818 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

this does need a lot of listens until it clicks imo.

Yazz_Flute
July 16th 2011


19174 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Review is on point.

tomr4
July 16th 2011


192 Comments


this is the album dredg should have made.

Phideaux
July 16th 2011


1664 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Album rules. Definitely a grower.

FearThyEvil
July 16th 2011


18806 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

This album was amazing. These guys are slowly creeping into becoming one of my favorite bands.

Crowe
July 16th 2011


434 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

For real. This sucks.

toolpeth182
July 17th 2011


317 Comments


this is really good. some of it sounds strangely familiar though..

renegadestrings
July 17th 2011


1616 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

i understand the comparisons to dredg, but they're completely different. dredg doesn't perform heavy tracks like the ones present here... not anymore at least.



album rules

Sowing
Moderator
July 17th 2011


44514 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

oh okaay. i'll give this the rating it deserves

Tyrael
July 17th 2011


21108 Comments


Oh wow I didn't know Mike Stagno was still active

Sowing
Moderator
July 17th 2011


44514 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

he just wrote a review a couple weeks ago lol

Tyrael
July 17th 2011


21108 Comments


Working isn't really affecting my brain in a positive way it seems

UrsusVeritas
July 17th 2011


83 Comments


lol some idiot actually took the time to rick roll people who mediafired this, hahahhah.

FelixCulpa
July 17th 2011


1243 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

With the exception of "Rikki Tikki Tavi" this is some excellent stuff.

FearThyEvil
July 17th 2011


18806 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

lol some idiot actually took the time to rick roll people who mediafired this, hahahhah.



Yeah I fell for that one before.

beefshoes
July 17th 2011


8445 Comments


I don't know about the Mew comparisons but this is still pretty cool.




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