I've been waiting for new Civil Twilight material since I fell in love with their previous album, Holy Weather. It's finally here, and I'm so happy. (You can find the album art here. I don't want to save the album art and share it without proper credit to the band. Plus, you'll be on the artist's website and you can explore all things Civil Twilight.)
"Oh Daniel" reminds me of Mumford and Sons. This really only happens at the choruses. I love the guitar in this song. And I believe I hear an organ of some sort. "Holy Dove" is great as well. The band REALLY wants to know if you'll be their holy dove, but I can deal with the limited lyrics because the music is enticing.
"When, When" is an island song for those who don't enjoy reggae. The chorus reminds me a lot of "Oh Daniel" melodically, but I still enjoy this poppier version of Civil Twilight. "Story of an Immigrant" doesn't stand out to me too much, considering it's the title track. I have basically the same feelings about "Let It Go." Steven McKellar's voice sounds particularly dreamy on this track, which may be the only reason I like it.
I'm a huge fan of the bass tone in "River Child." I wish it didn't get so lost in the chorus. This is one of my favorites my favorite on the album, minus the autotune. "All My Clothes" is another sick bass track. Immerse yourself in this song and you'll be pretty damn happy. "The Other Side" is something I'd like to see more of from Civil Twilight. If the album were full of tracks as great as this one and "River Child," I'd be much more enthusiastic.
I'm a big fan of the second half of the album, including "Didn't Know When to Stop." Lyrically simple, the song reminds me of a chase scene. Maybe you should add this one to your running playlist! As for "Only For A Time," I have two words: THAT BASS.
"Love Was All That Mattered" actually gave me chills. The simplicity of the song is breathtaking. It reminds me of a Beatles song that I can't entirely put my finger on. Or maybe it's a Muse song? There's a huge age gap with those two bands, but certain elements of their songs are evident in this Civil Twilight track. There's something hauntingly familiar about this song, which is a talent that Civil Twilight really pulls off. Their bonus track, "Believe," brings me back to the Holy Weather days.
Do I sound crazy if I say that vocally and instrumentally this album is great, I'm just not the biggest fan of all of the songs? Probably. The first few songs are decent, but Civil Twilight redeems themselves with a killer second half of the album, starting with "River Child." While I prefer the dark storminess of Holy Weather, Story of an Immigrant is admittedly an easier, passive listen. I'm always grateful for more Civil Twilight content. Yet, I can hear elements of other bands hot on the scene influencing Civil Twilight's sound. I can assume I'll like the whole album more with each listen. Even so, I love Civil Twilight and I just ordered this sick vinyl for Story of an Immigrant: https://www.pledgemusic.com/checkout/1254173. You should too.
Rating: 7/10
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