TO KEEP FROM CRYING

This album, whenever mentioned by people I know or by people writing reviews always seems to get the short end of the stick when compared to their debut. I am really tired of this. I've been listening to this album A LOT lately and can safely say that if they had never made First Utterance, people would be gushing about finding a copy of To Keep From Crying. The funny thing is, I'm really glad Comus recorded First utterance for two reasons:

1. First Utterance is an awesome album. That goes without saying.

2. To Keep From Crying is a beautiful response to the darkness of their first statement. Much like "Poesies I and II" by Comte De Lautreamont was a response to his masterwork "Maldoror". The problem is evil is much more provocative and immediately gratifying that good (Who reads Dante's "Paradiso" anyway?). First Utterance is intensely dark and horrifying which makes for a highly entertaining listen. When anticipating a follow up, I imagine most listeners want more of the same which is not what they got, which is a big reason for the slagging of this album. I don't understand. Over the course of 4 years, people change. The melodies are AMAZING on this album. The arrangements are very creative and injected with various avant garde, proggy ideas throughout. Yeah it's a folk rock album; a bit more "pop" and "rock" than the first. But honestly, the first album ain't Stockhausen! It's just creepier!

And okay, there are a couple tracks that maybe aren't quite as good. But I can say the same for First Utterance.

To Keep From Crying is a brilliant, addictive art-folk/rock record with amazing high pitched singing (which I love) and a positive overall message of love.