Braving a new strategy to combat the music industry’s record low sales, Omaha Nebraska’s own Cursive releases their newest album Mama, I’m Swollen. After digitally releasing the album 10 days before its official release date for only $1 (adding a dollar per day for each remaining day) Tim Kasher and crew add another golden star to Omaha and Saddle Creeks’ shining musical collection. As usual Cursive delivers their uniquely unparalleled sound like a rock. Kasher’s rasped and whispery vocals steadily mesh with the frantic beats and instrumentals from Matt Maginn, Ted Stevens, and new drummer Cornbread Compton. What seems slightly different on Mama, I’m Swollen, are the much less flowing musical beats found in the past few albums. Vocals are the strength here. There aren’t any quickly catchy sounds like The Ugly Organ’s “The Recluse,” or Happy Hollow’s “Into the Fold,” leaving the album most on-par with 2000’s Domestica. The cheer-like song “In The Now” opens the album with a heavy, fast pace and sets of repeated lyrics. One of two pre-released tracks “From The Hips” starts out slow before smoothly transitioning into galloping drums and passionate vocals. The following few tracks including “I Couldn’t Love You,” “We’re Going to Hell,” and “Mama, I’m Satan” comprise a variety of instruments from a flute, piano, and high noted keyboard. “I Couldn’t Love You,” highlights the uncanny ability Cursive possess to make sense of the nonsensical-ness of love through lyrics like “Love's what you take/ But can never give/ Love's what you hate/You'll never figure out what it's for.” The title track “Mama, I’m Swollen” is another slowly building, hyper showcase of Kasher’s addicting voice, and the bands sporadically jarring breakdowns. At the album’s close, “What Have I Done” tells a personal story of life on the road and the self-condemnation of the rock star lifestyle. “I got lost along the way/Amongst free HBO and take-out/ Going to write my Moby Dicks/ More like scratching lyrics on paper plates/ I spent the best years of my life/ Waiting on the best years of my life/ So what's there to write about?” show again the to-the-core emotional lyrics of Cursive. After a slow and saddening four minutes, the song powerfully breaks down both instrumentally and vocally. Much like the emotional endings of previous Cursive albums, “What Have I Done” is successfully one of the albums best tracks, and a perfect closer. Although Mama, I’m Swollen isn’t as easy listening as Cursive’s past three albums, those who love the heart of the berserk and interestingly disorganized sounds of Cursive circa Domestica, might find this album to be more of a masterpiece than ever. Stay Tuned for Cursive’s national television debut Friday March 13th.on the Late Show with David Letterman. Visit Saddle Creek’s store to purchase the album along with deluxe LP physical editions of Mama, I'm Swollen which include additional bonus music and artwork with handwritten lyrics by Tim Kasher. |
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