As I previously stated, Only Way to be Alone was one of only three albums I listened to in summer 2008. I bought it in Sacramento after seeing them live for the first time and I loved being able to relive the moments from their live shows every time I listened to a song. Each song was a memory, a moment, a story. Over three years later and each song still takes me back to that summer. While the album’s sound is timeless, to me, it is stuck in (a really good) time, and that is one of the things that appeals to me so much about the album. I have never felt this emotionally or nostalgically attached to an album before.

Opening track “Coney Island” is a folky and upbeat tune. The whole song is catchy even though I’ve never referred to a hot dog as a dog. The simultaneous “I hate it here” and “I still love it here” thoughts echo thoughts that most of us probably have about our towns. The standout part of this song is between the choruses, featuring only drums and vocals without sounding empty.

“Looking For Shelter” served as my introduction to Good Old War back in 2008 and because of this song I fell in love with Good Old War. This song sums up everything I love about Good Old War and always reminds me why I like them so much. It’s a very fun song featuring Keith Goodwin’s soft vocals that do not lose their characteristic softness on his higher or lower notes. It’s also a very sweet song, “oh girl, you’re already a picture of my will. You’re my girl. Can we try to be here just for a while?”

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Newly released and hot on the iTunes music charts is Come Back as Rain, Good Old War’s third and most realized release. I believe the direction they have taken on this album is one of confidence and a nostalgic feel for the albums they grew up with.

“Over and Over” immediately shows better production than their previous self-titled effort. Dan Schwartz’s guitar fills the empty spaces in the song, once again making us say, “Wait, that’s only one guy?” If you don’t like tapping your toes, I’d start taping them to the floor before you start listening to this song.

“Calling Me Names” is the standout track on Come Back as Rain. Although I still have not warmed up to the intro, it is very catchy when the music kicks in. The whole song screams of Taylor Swift to me, and that is not a bad thing (hey now). I wish it had a bit more substance, but its somewhat immature lyrics do not stop me from loving it.

“Amazing Eyes” is simple and sports a beautiful vocal melody. There is a sophisticated meaning behind these lyrics but they are delivered through very simple and underwhelming wording. Keith Goodwin’s voice loses its characteristic softness on the higher notes of the song, which is unfortunate and rare. However, around 2:08, the softness comes back beautifully, melting the ice in my heart for those more grating high notes. However, this song is too long for my taste.

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2010 saw the follow up to Good Old War’s highly successful debut album, Only Way to Be Alone, which happened to be one of the only three albums I listened to during the summer of 2008. I will admit, Good Old War is much softer than anything I would deem “my cup of tea”, but their live performances immediately had me in love with Only Way to Be Alone. However, when Good Old War came out, I took a few listens, didn’t really like it, and never listened to it again. It was only when I was listening to my iTunes library in alphabetical order that I accidentally stumbled upon this album again. It really grew on me, just in time for the release of their third album, Come Back As Rain.

The fifteen track album opens with “Good”, a very pleasant, busy, and uplifting intro that is something I would expect as an album closer. Perhaps they could have switched “Good” and the equally pleasant, slightly more somber last track “War” for a better flow. “Good” immediately displays their interesting vocal choices, far beyond the normal “ooh, ahh”, and “doo doo doos” we hear in almost every song these days. This is also seen in “That’s Some Dream”, where the syllabic choice is “lie die die”.

“Here are the Problems” begins with a bang. Tim Arnold creates a perfect drum beat that carries the guitar’s melody, keeping the song upbeat and full although there are many pauses between the instruments.

Next up is “My Own Sinking Ship”, a song I first heard on a YouTube video of a concert that was released long before the album actually came out; it is a song I immediately fell in love with. The trio did not disappoint and managed to improve the song that was already perfect in my eyes. The recorded version of this song is full and the tone is lovely. We also see Tim Arnold’s accordion skills featured prominently. I forgive the less than deep and well presented verse lyrics because of the brilliance of the chorus lyrics: “You are my own sinking ship / ‘cause every day the current shifts”.

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I have been an Eisley fan since I heard “I Wasn’t Prepared” on the radio while I was in the car one day, many years ago. I am not a die-hard fan, but the DuPrees have some of the most undeniably beautiful voices I have ever heard. Interestingly, it was not because of Eisley that I heard about Christie DuPree, who had me thinking, “Wow, she really sounds like the girls from Eisley.” Needless to say, I was feeling foolish, but hooked! One thing that gives a little bit more of my heart to Merriment is that although the narrative and vocal styles are very similar, Merriment’s lyrics are a lot more straight forward and easier to relate to. We see this on Through the Rough with its 18 minutes of vague, but very personal and emotional lyrics sung honestly over gorgeous and simple melodies.  

“I Give Up” is a gorgeous introduction to Merriment’s overall sound. The vocal melody during the verses reminds me of a few songs from The Early November’s The Mother, the Mechanic, and the Path. It’s very easy to relate to the sentiments in this song. We all have been in this situation at one point in time: “You can’t even bring yourself to say / that you don’t need me / though you think about me. / It’s been two years now / you still don’t love me / but some day you might. / Some day, yeah right”. I find it interesting that “I Give Up” is the first track on the EP, for reasons which I will expand upon later.

“Blessed Soul” has gorgeous and flowing vocals, reminding me of Eisley’s “Trolleywood”. This song goes from the somber and slightly bitter “I Give Up” and moves into the optimism characteristic of young love: “If you choose to let me love you / our love, our love would reach the sky. / No bounds, no bonds, no breaks, no trials. / Just you, just me, our love goes free”.

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What I’ve loved about Circa Survive since the beginning of their incredible musical journey is that they continue to progress and change their sound without changing what makes them unique. But when Blue Sky Noise came out I was thinking that maybe they had changed a bit too much. Time will understandably influence any band’s sound. It took time, but Blue Sky Noise grew on me and now I love it. Still, I was both excited and nervous that The Appendage EP would take them even further from the sound of their early music.

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Positivexposure’s General Manager Sunny Landon picks her top 8 albums of 2010, a year that saw 6 albums released by only two of her favorite bands and the discovery of a few new favorites.

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Why I had never heard of Harvard sooner makes no sense to me. I hope these guys are a household name some time in the near future! They’re a five piece from Charlotte, North Carolina and they’re gearing up to release their debut full length, The Inevitable and I, on Dec 1st. I was immediately in love with their sound as soon as I heard the first song on their MySpace, “Memory Police,” and it only got better as the player progressed. I very strongly recommend listening to them, like…now. They’re indie, they’re rock, they’re experimental, they’re just plain really good. Or should I say ‘awesome’ since this is an awesome band alert. They’re definitely awesome.

Click to check them out

FOR FANS OF: Circa Survive*, As Tall As Lions, Copeland

*I get pretty darn angry when magazines suggest things for Circa Survive and it sounds absolutely nothing like them, so please believe me when I say, I do not just hand out that comparison!

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