Narrow Head : "Moments of Clarity"

 On "12th House Rock" the Texas band busted out some post-hard core with an emotive underpinning. Not unlike Hum or Helmet if those bands were really into their feelings. Now the glaze of shoegaze coats the songs. The vocals are more introspective. The title track has a harder syncopated jangle, as they remind you, they did not leave their distortion pedals at home. The vocal lines pack a hookier punch hookier, as their song writing has been sharpened this time around. They use a similar formula, but with more dynamic ebb and flow on "Sunday". This also brings with it more of a grunge feel, as the soft to loud trademark of the 90s is carried over here. On my second listen this grew on me more.

"Trepanation" has more of a Deftones thing going on, as it gets moody and creeps around with more introspective vocals. They wear their influences on their sleeves here with the androgynous croon that mirrors Smashing Pumpkins on "Break Up Song". So, all the pre-emo bands are represented here. This still works as they switch things up enough to weave their own identity from this quilt of band tees. Their core audience is also young enough to have missed this sort of thing the first time around. "Fine Day" felt more like a continuation of the previous song. It works for what they are doing, though I am less wow'ed than I was for some the previous songs. 

The album begins to coast from here. "Caroline" works fine, but not what they kids call a slapper. There are more woozy dream pop sounds enveloping "the World" . It breezes by, but the crunchier punch of "Gearhead' makes for a better contrast. Don't remember them digging into the crunchy Deftones vibe last time around. The groove further down this path with "Flesh & Solitude" which is fine with me. They have more anguished vocals in the background. Unlike Chino their singer does not do both. "the  Comedown" is more like the Smashing Pumpkin's version of a power ballad, but with less pop leanings. "Soft to Touch" flirts with Deftones like vibes in another way as it blends electronic beats with the deliberate guitar brooding behind them. While it leans heavily on their influences this album is a step forward as songwriters and even better than the last one so I will give it a 9.5, and see how it grows on me.