Review Summary: A left turn.
Analgesin is the phoenix that rises from the ashes of Sensory Deprivation, a one-man post-noise band from the middle of nowhere in Maine. The final statement of SD was an experiment in immensity, an attempt to rekindle old fires as well as define and solidify the aesthetic of new ego Brendan MacBrayne. The Reason To Get Up in the Morning immediately boasts itself, and immediately takes you into a different sonic world than the punk days of old. Opener Anodyne is built on nothing but tension, a fake keyboard sounds a bit out of place and jarring, but the uncomfortable air is a welcome accessory to the off-putting droning vocals. Where Analgesin fails compared to the final efforts of Sensory Deprivation is simply in terms of execution, perhaps due to growing pains into this new sound.
The two songs following the opener introduce the more lush and patient style Analgesin aims for, but the placement of these songs one after another cause monotony, and lack of climaxes or dynamics can lead to aimless wandering. The vocals sound a lot like they did on Sensory Deprivation, which is a good and a bad thing, they don't exactly fit all the atmospheres Brendan presents, but they give the music an aura of aggression and youth. The album picks up greatly in its second half with a short, almost folk-punk song that fits the motif of Analgesin perfectly, along with charmingly cynical lyrics. The true hopeful highlights here, though, are the final two tracks.
The Youth Who Dream Homicide introduces a southern, bass-heavy waltz that lurks nicely and plays out to be the most impressive execution of Analgesin's philosophy. His singing is at its most tuneful here and the song plods along in a similar fashion to past tracks, but is made interesting through group vocals and massive drumming. The final tune A Jig for the Eons excels the most in looking ahead, lyrically and musically, and ironically resembles Sensory Deprivation the most. The track builds from a confused but hopeful verse into a final roaring climax where Brendan goes AHHHHH, topped off with a wicked menacing drum solo. Without this impressive closer the album would lose a great deal of the power it has.
The Reason To Get Up in the Morning is not a disappointment, it is simply a case of successes and failures. The album was most-likely just rushed, released only 2 months after the monolithic double album preceding it. The lyrics accompany these new sounds with new feelings and propositions, new takes on old themes, and a satisfying feeling of continuation. In its entirety, all we have here is a beginning of a new chapter.
