Fleshwater : "2000: In Search of the Endless Sky"

 

I had to go back and give "We're Not Here to Be Loved" another listen before I realized there is a girl singer in this band, I though her voice was just harmonizing on a couple of songs and they had more of a Circa Surive thing going on at the time, Now that I realize Marisa Shirar is their lead vocalist, is something I am accepting as I move forward with this review. The mix of this album is more radio-friendly with the vocals out front, as the guitar swirls around them. Shirar's singing style is more rock-oriented on this album as she belts it out more with the guitar sitting back in the mix. I prefer "Jet Pack" over "Green Street," and the more atmospheric opener is my favorite. The shoegazing is certainly dialed back as the album progresses. 

In some ways, the production of the guitars on this album reminds me of Far. "Last Escape" finds the pace picking up and the guitars going into more of a jangle. The chorus is lighter and poppier. While her voice sounds stronger on this album, I think it takes away from the more atmospheric side that makes them more unique, thrusting them to compete with the Paramores of the world. This pop-punk take on emo is more in your face this time around. "Be Your Best" has some more experimental elements in play, which is something this band needs to lean into more. The drummer from These Pianos Are Teeth plays on this album and makes some interesting choices in how the drums were recorded to give her the room to sit back and sing with more feeling but less forced intensity.

"Jerome Town" gets into a harder rocking with its staccato riffing. Anthony Dido's vocals lead off this song, and his relaxed approach is what the song needed. At the beginning of "Sundown" I thought I pressed play on Ethel Cain by mistake, then things kick in a little more to give a more 90s alternative feel. It's a good song, but it sounds nothing like the band that caught my attention with their previous album. "Raging Storm" follows a similar 90s formula, but has a more punk-infused drive. "Silverine" is more of an interlude than a song that stands on its own two feet. "Endless Sky" finds Anthony's vocals leading off. It finds a balance of heft bass lines providing a backbone, against 90s emo melodies. I will give this a 9, as some great songs just need to grow on me since I liked late 90s emo, which is the dominant sonic factor even more than the slight nods to nu-metal or shoegaze. 

 

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