With more
rock
and less whine,
Cursive
provides an exclamation point to the
emo
scene with
Domestica
, their third release. Led by vocalists
Tim Kasher
and former
Lullaby for the Working Class
frontman
Ted Stevens
,
explores
Kasher
's messy divorce through a series of clever but transparent metaphors.
is a concept album harping on the ugliness and beauty of love, a treatise on the pains of divorce and romance. While the themes are nothing new, they are executed inventively. Half the songs don't even contain a chorus, replacing the classic song structure with a string of middle eights held together by the exceptional rhythm section. Despite the instrumental prowess, the true standout on this record is
. His throaty voice propels the album's most satiating cut,
"A Red So Deep,"
from a dissonant clang to an effortless whisper. From the
hard rock
of the D.C. scene (
"The Martyr,"
"The Radiator Hums"
) to the classic
Pavement
sound (
"Making Friends and Acquaintances"
),
proves they are more than the typical
band.
's marital troubles transform the selections on
from mere calls for help to anthems of rejection. ~ Yancey Strickler