Braid - Closer to Closed
Rating
RIYL
The Promise RingSunny Day Real Estate
American Football
Hey Mercedes
Release Date
08/16/2011
Label
PolyvinylTracklist
1. The Right Time2. Do Over
3. You are the Reason
4. Universe or Worse
Users Rating |
Your RatingCreate an account or log in to rate this album |
Recent Ratings |
|
|
|
Emo and post-hardcore fans have been yearning for new Braid material ever since their breakup in 1999 after the release of their critically acclaimed and career-defining full length Frame & Canvas. In 2010 the members of Braid reformed and set out to create a new release for Record Store Day 2011. Closer to Closed is the result of those efforts, featuring three new songs and a cover of Jeff Hanson’s “You are the Reason.”
This new EP is a natural progression from the band’s last full length, a tough feat to achieve since the two releases were written so far apart. The nostalgic feel is partially due to the production quality, which has a very 90’s feel to it with fuzzy guitars and an understated sound for the rhythm section. Moreover, Braid’s trademarked style from Frame & Canvas remains largely intact, so those of you who were expecting the band to return to their more aggressive roots will be disappointed with the mellow tunes on this record.
The three new originals vary slightly and show different sides to Braid. “The Right Time” kicks off the EP and features timid vocals, catchy hooks, upbeat guitar riffs, and aggressive drumming complemented by some tasteful bass lines. “Do Over” is a faster, more straightforward tune and probably the weakest one out of the bunch; there’s just not much to grab the listener in this song. Lastly, the vocals in “Universe or Worse” have a more sullen feel to them, with funk-oriented drum and bass that holds the song together as the guitars break away from the pack into a couple-minute instrumental jam that closes out the EP.
Waiting over a decade to write new material typically doesn’t work out well for reformed bands, but somehow Braid manages to pull it off on Closer to Closed. Granted, it only contains three original songs, but the majority of them are of high quality and make it worth revisiting the band. Also, coming from someone who never really listened to Braid in the 90’s, the band should have no problem earning some new listeners as well. Hopefully this isn’t the last we’ll see of Braid, but only time will tell if they have any more songs up their sleeves.
--Nicholas Fritz
Comments
Fishers, Indiana
I've never listened to Braid, though I think I owe it to myself to start here.
Top Albums: 2011 | 2010 | 2009 || Tumblr | Twitter
Coopersburg, PA
Yeah, I never really got into them either when I was younger. If you like this EP, then you'll probably like Frame & Canvas; from what I've heard off that album, the two releases are somewhat similar.
Los Angeles
This is fantastic.
Fishers, Indiana
Alright, so this is inoffensive, but not gripping. It's pleasant. And unfortunately I don't get the nostalgia thing because I never actually had listened to them before.
Top Albums: 2011 | 2010 | 2009 || Tumblr | Twitter