Ah, the third album. Refreshing isn't it? Sometimes it means the band has made it, a symbol that the ship is steady and they know what they're doing. However, it might mean that a band is still searching for its sound. Well none of these are true for the new Circa Survive album. The follow-up to 2007s fantastic On Letting Go, Blue Sky Noise is difficult to put a tag on.But that's not a bad thing. Hell, it's a GOOD thing. High-pitched vocalist Anthony Green, former singer of Saosin, hasn't changed. He's still angry and confused and he wants to tell you about it. That's what I've come to expect from a Circa Survive record. However, the structure of the instrumentation is different. Many previous Circa Survive songs had the same sound, with the major diversity being the structure of Green's vocals. Both take a step forward here. The album begins with "Strange Terrain" a song that seems to be a cry for help from Green, where he sings "Where've all the signs gone, I don't know where I am". It's typical Circa Survive, and this song rocks through and through. It immediately leads into "Get Out", the first song released from the album back in February. You finally get Anthony Green's first screaming vocals, and he doesn't disappoint. Also, a mini guitar solo is continued with another guitar solo. That's two guitar solos people! This song rocks, through and through. The next song is "Glass Arrows". This song sounds like it belonged on Juturna, the debut album, as it has higher pitched vocals from Green and the repeating guitar riff that made their debut album so desirable. "This appeared from heavenly places, never seen again, how long has it been, how long has it been?" sings Green. One of the few songs that hasn't taken much progression of the bands sound, this song is typical Circa Survive. The next song is the first ballad on the album, titled "I Felt Free". It's really the only song I could envision on the radio, complete with piano and a very focused lyrics, as Green sings "I fell apart in your arms for the last time, and I felt free to do what I want because of the things you told me, you told me, I felt free". It's quiet but certainly not soft. It's still a song that rocks, but just not as loud as the others. The next song is one of my two favorites on the album, titled "Imaginary Enemy". Anthony Green has some of his meanest lyrics on this song, and the guitar work is great. Green sings "I tried so hard to be what you needed, your imaginary enemy. I tried for so long, to make you believe it that I am not the enemy". It's sad, but angry in a retrospective reminiscent way. The next song "Through the Desert Alone" begins with a riff that sounds like Iron Maiden or Metallica helped Circa Survive write a song. With the guitar is a piano that brings a sense of calm to the track. More of the same here though, and it's not a real standout song. However, the chorus is great. Not catchy but you have dual vocals here. It's great to see one of the other members have a crack at the microphone with Green. That's not common at all for Circa Survive, and the last time I remember hearing it is on the standout track from On Letting Go "Your Friends Are Gone". The second part of the song has great drums. This song is nothing different but there are minor changes that just stand out. Next comes my other favorite song, "Frozen Creek". This song may be my favorite Circa Survive song ever. It's quiet, and sad. The chorus is almost nonexistant, with Green just singing "On top a frozen creek, I would love to take you there. It's where it froze through me". It's the quietest song on the album, but my surefire favorite. It just seems so sad. Definite recommendation. The next song, "Fever Dreams", contains vocals from Green that sound distant, as if he's singing far away from the rest of the band, but he's still prominent. His voice is what makes this band stand out, and they know that. They play to his ability to sound masculine, angry, yet shrill and high-pitched at the same time. This song is really more of the same. The only thing that I loved in this song was a bass solo that occurs for over a minute in the middle of the song that is great. Some of the best basswork this band has ever put to disc. "Spirit of the Stairwell" starts out with almost angelic crooning from Green and company, with just an acoustic guitar. This is the closest you'll get to an acoustic ballad from Circa Survive and it's one of the saddest songs on the album. "I won't be angry if you have to leave, but I won't be waiting for that day, so don't say you're sorry, cause I won't believe, I won't believe you" sings Green. This man has been hurt, and you can tell. The next song "The Longest Mile" is more of the same Circa Survive. Again, dual vocals though! That's twice in the album. That's progression. Other than that, the lyrics and instrumentation are more of the same. Second to last track "Compendium" is stricly instrumental, and it's not bad, just nothing different. It's a song that you listen to a couple of times through, then skip over it the next time. Forgettable, but it leads into the album closer "Dyed in the Wool". The guitar in the beginning sounds hopeful, but the lyrics suggest otherwise. This song features a full backing choir in the chorus, chanting "I know, I know". It's a fitting closer and sums up the sentiment of the album as Green sings "Nothing's gonna change, I know I know". The end of the song is great, and not a disappointment at all.
Like the last lyrics, not much has changed in this album. Juturna pronounced the band's sound, and they got more confident with that sound in On Letting Go. This album sounds like On Letting Go, Part 2. Not a bad thing at all though. The progression is noticeable, but not so different to drive away fans of the band's previous work. Green's vocals and lyrics are some of his best, although the subject matter is still dreary and sad. If you liked any previous albums of Circa Survive, this album is for you. One of the best alternative rock records of the year so far, this album doesn't disappoint. It's full of great songs, and some forgettable ones. But not too many to take away from a great album. They've done it again.
Final Grade: B+
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