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Circa Survive
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Juturna
Equal Vision Records
Release: 4/19/2005
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Rated:
Review by:
Meagan Rockne
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The 11-songed Juturna has been hyped since
the inception of Circa Survive. Unfortunately, for me the
hype falls drastically short. It's blah. This may be the first
professional quality CD I can't pick out a favorite song. To
me all the songs sound the same. The tempo, Green's voice,
and the heavy instrumentation - they all make for an album
full of "haven't I heard this song before?" I will rave about
how well Green's voice blends into the music. Unfortunately,
at times, the lyrics aren't as pronounced, and I have no idea
what he is singing.
While listening to Juturna, I had auditory
flashbacks to The Mars Volta's "Widow." I have no idea if
Circa Survive lists The Mars Volta as an influence, but after
listening to Juturna, I can hear a similarity.
However, if you are expecting a record similar to the sound
of band members' previous work, you will be somewhat
amiss. (Circa Survive is made up of Saosin's original lead
singer, Anthony Green and This Days Forward's guitarists
Colin Frangicetto and Brendan Ekstrom, along with Taken's
bassist, Nick Beard.)
Juturna is all about the little subtleties coming
together to produce something intricate, detailed and
complex. If a Robert Altman film were to be transformed
into music, Juturna would be it. Each band
member is doing their own thing - concentrating on their
music - but when it comes together, it's a highly polished art
form. It is definitely a record that needs to be listened to
over an extended amount of time for the listener to
comprehend what is going on.
Colin Frangicetto once said that Circa Survive wanted to
"bring back that quality that was extremely present in the
music of the 60s and 70s that urgency; the feeling that a
note could change the world." I understand what Circa
Survive is trying to accomplish. Along with trying to shed
associations with previous work, they are also trying to add
integrity and originality in a music scene that is not known
for either. Now whether or not Circa Survive is
accomplishing that feat is up to the listeners. I will admit that
Juturna is like nothing I've ever heard before,
but that does not make it good. To me it lacks a spark. Sure,
it has amazing and creative instrumentation and the
engineering and production is above par, but it doesn't draw
me, as a listener, in. It felt too sterile - it's a case where the
reliance on modern technology interfered with the music. |
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