The Antlers: Burst Apart

Here’s a warning: hide all of your knives before you turn this one on, because it’s a downer. I mean these guys put the EMO in emotion. In fact, this is what emo bands listen to when they wanna’ get more emo. It’s also one of the most blissful albums I’ve heard in a long time. And it’s not all downtrodden. While lead singer Peter Silberman starts out of the gate brooding, proclaiming his wish to not fall in love, Burst Apart moves into more upbeat territory with the appropriately titled “French Exit,” a mid-tempo shuffle, laced with dreamy keyboards and lush guitars. On one of the other uptempo tracks on the album- the angsty “Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out- Silberman sings along to some of the most straight-ahead rock on the album, singing of the desperation that comes with the loss of self-control. But where Silberman & Co. really shine are on the dreamy tracks like “Hounds” and “Corsicana” that are as good as it gets in terms of sheer beauty within a song. Again, this isn’t an album I’d listen to before a run (assuming I actually ran), nor would I play it at a party (well maybe), because it’s not that kind of album. This one resonates, it has layers, and it takes a while to appreciate. But give it some time, I promise it won’t disappoint.

Select Cuts: I Don’t Wanna’ Fall in Love, Rolled Together, Hounds, Corsicana