Good morning Falling Up
Posted April 14, 2008
By Nathan,
Exit Lights seemed the album for Falling Up to break the trend they set in Crashing and dawn escapes, which was not enough diversity between songs. Exit Lights (a remix CD) fixed those problems while slowing certain songs down and consecrated other songs, but now Falling Up's newest CD Captiva did the same only with 12 new songs.
The music is from very light rock to at best medium rock, but the best way to categorize Falling Up's irregular sound is alternative rock. The opening song to their album is "A guide to marine life" which combines Jessie Ribordy great vocals and the light but complex rock; together it's amazingly good, possibly the best on the record. The single "Good night gravity" has a hint of punk in the song, and hotel aquarium is a good alternative rock tune. Despite the solid music, the title track "Captive" isn't as good as some of the songs surrounding it. "Helicopters" has a techno sound, and although "maps" is solid the more routine rock sound doesn't flatter Falling Up.
The transition though their remix album is clearly revealed in on "How they made cameras" which has impressive soft, complex. "Good morning planetarium" is a compact rock song, but Murexa is the most solid rock song on the album, as its fasted paced tune never slows down. After getting past the rough verses, reveals an amazing song, in the light, "Drago or the dragon". The Band's greatest musical achievements lie at the end of the album, as the music on "Arc to the Achilles" is flat out spectacular. If it's possible to get better, it would have to be the last track "the dark side of indoor track meets", which takes the solemn mood of the entire album to a new high. Oh yeah, the light, but heavily complex medium rock is incredible also.
Whether the lyrics are the weakest part of the album or the strongest, at least it can be said it's the most interesting. Falling Up must like to keep their lyrics mysterious, with song titles like "Arc to the Achilles", "Drago or the dragon", and "Good morning planetarium" it's clear that nothing is regular and ordinary on this album. and "Good morning planetarium's" lyrics are about salvation, and the band makes the message easy on "how they made cameras" with its lyrics ('Now salvation sings/Life that Jesus brings'). But lyrics like "Watch me float by, a bending, arched and sweeping sight/Now play it backwards and I swear you will see me misty eyed" will ensure that fans will keep guessing at Riborys hidden meanings. Hint: gravity plays a big part.
Falling Up has solved most of their problems on Captiva, as the band is definitely moving more away from the routine rock sound of their first album Crashing to a more sophisticated sound. Clearer lyrics would have been nice, but it is part of the appeal, lets hope though it does not drive fans away. And although the only really radio friendly track is "good night gravity" This alternative rock group is on to something golden. View All Music And Book Reviews By Nathan | View Nathan's Profile
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