SONGS FOR BEATING HEARTS

Man it's been a hot minute since I reviewed a Beardfish album. How long has it been, 2 years? Quite a bit, huh? Anyhow, since they decided to miraculously come back after what we all thought was their finale of +4626- Comfortzone, They managed to wriggle back up 9 years later with the very orange, but very great Song for Beating Hearts.

After a 9 year exile, you'd think the band would lose its touch from its golden days of Sleeping in Traffic, or Destined Solitaire, but I find Songs for Beating Hearts to be an incredibly well made comeback record, probably one of the best of this year. They still carry that same quirky retro prog stylings that remind one of the 70s prog sound, but still with that modern kick that makes them sound as fresh as a ripe pear. In fact, I'd say they improved more, at least in direction with their music on here. While I do love it when they get all goofy and try some new stuff, an album this consistent, yet still with tracks that certainly do feel distinct from one another, is quite the blessing for me...

...As well as a curse. It can be quite a double edged sword, since while I do really love this constant symphonic prog style they provide on this album, I do admit I very much miss when they changed things up on occasion. I really do wish there was a track like Cashflow, or Turn to Gravel, or even Daughter / Whore on here, you know something that kinda detracts away from the constant beats of symphonic prog music. They kinda remedy this with Torrential Downpour, but even then I feel like it being the final track kinda doesn't do much for me, though I still really like that song.

I'll also say this album is weirdly stark of any comedy, heck even more than on Mammoth, but unlike Mammoth I think it does give a benefit to this album. It feels like the band really grew up, in a way, where instead of hiding melancholy under a visage of Zappa-like comedy, they really put their beating hearts on their sleeves, making a purebred, serious album. While the funniness of their previous albums will be missed, I am not discontent with them continuing this direction.

Oh yeah, this album also has a really amazing epic. In fact this album's track listing is just really good. Sure I kinda wish Torrential Downpour was more placed in the middle rather than at the end, but other than that this record has a pretty amazing number of scores to go through. From the grand 20 minute epic of Out in the Open, to the soft and folksy In The Autumn, to even the more neo-progesque bonus track of Ecotone - Norrsken 1982, this record does manage to just have some really good tracks, with really no bad stuff, aside from Ecotone (Reprise), but that's really only because it's basically 40 seconds so you aren't missing out on much.

Overall, while Songs for Beating Hearts may not be a true return to form for Beardfish, it does a lot of things right to make up for it in my opinion. Definitely a recommendation from me, especially if you had already been a fan of Beardfish for a while now. Out of every comeback album of this year, this is certainly one that's on top.

Best tracks: Ecotone, Out in the Open, In the Autumn

Worst track: Ecotone (Reprise)