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Circa Survive

On Letting Go (2007)
Equal Vision Records

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Contributed by: Brian
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on July 6th 2007

Expectations were nothing less than monumental for Circa Survive and their sophomore LP, On Letting Go. Ex-members of This Day Forward would take yet another creative leap from their roaring metalcore heydays; Equal Vision would hold its collective breath at their volcanic buildup to the release; and finally, Anthony Green would finally be releasing a second full-length with a singular collective outfit.

Watching its reception unfold and taking in the album itself, the band has seemed to fortunately deliver on nearly all fronts. The one minor criticism they've been most often hit with is how they may have played it safe in nearly writing a mere sequel to Juturna, with many pointing out how producer Brian McTernan paints the landscape with the same sonic brush and the band fill the soundscapes with more bold choruses, warm/cool atmospheres and Green's comforting croon.

This seems a little unfair considering a couple factors, though. For starters, On Letting Go feels much less airy than its predecessor; the rhythm section is beefed up, giving the band a thicker, bolder feel. As well, a steady Cave In influence circa Jupiter/Antenna seems to mark a number of the tracks, channeling that band's shards of metallic, shimmering guitar work ("Mandala," the title track, "Carry Us Away") and trippy space rock vibe -- perhaps McTernan, who produced Jupiter, carried over a few of the traits he oversaw during its recording. Actually, some of the ringing guitars in "Kicking Your Crosses Drown" recalls Audioslave's "Be Yourself" -- seriously. Granted, much like Juturna, only careful, attentive listening reveals the subtleties of the melodies hidden beneath wailing guitars and cascading flourishes of instrumentation. But it feels like those are both somehow more immediate and esoteric than those on Juturna.

Anthony Green's sound ruminations remain cryptic ("If blood is thicker than water, then / you'll drown quicker than we intended"), world-weary ("Did you ever wish you were somebody else?") or downright bitter ("We laugh in the face of love because nobody's really there"). His articulate musings fulfill the depth promised by the sounds the rest of his band manages to craft. Green's moods range from pleading and desperate to cold and denying to lost and self-deprecating to confident and optimistic -- he leaves it all out on the table, and it doesn't hurt that his voice is as captivating as usual.

Throw in visually stunning and clever packaging and On Letting Go is a serious success. Circa Survive continues to grow into their sound, and as quiet as their progression may be so far, it's finding its followers delicately floating along every turn of the way.

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keithybobeefy (June 1, 2010)

I just saw Circa open for Coheed and Cambria at the Electric Factory in Phili. They started out strong, and definately had energy and seemed to love what they were doing. But, after a few songs it got old. Anthony Green has a good voice, but for me it can kind of get annoying after awhile.

That being said, on record they are really good.

xsummerxsaddismx (February 7, 2008)

this album is really amazing,
i bought it and downloaded it to my iPod, and its the only thing I listen too!

anthonys voice is truly amazing, and his lyrics are really emotional and deep.

you cant help but love circa survie

mvburton20 (January 11, 2008)

put cove reber in this band and it might make them sound interesting

Anonymous (July 19, 2007)

Sounds like Juterna pt 2 watered down but I still enjoy it.

Anonymous (July 9, 2007)

one of the best records of the year, definitely.
-TOBB

Anonymous (July 9, 2007)

Probably the best record i've heard this year. The dude can sing.

SloaneDaley (July 8, 2007)

I've said it before and I'll say it again Circa Survive are the single most annoying band I'v ever seen live, dude has a good voice but fuck were his stage moves annoying.

m-oo (July 8, 2007)

Score is for the "circa gay" comment, im ashamed but I LOL'd

Anonymous (July 8, 2007)

I think some poor soul has an unhealthy hate for circa survive. Faaaaaaaaaaaaaag!

Kursk (July 7, 2007)

i hate to sound similar to everyone else, but this album is nowhere near as good as Juturna or the Inuit Sessions. I really like "Living Together", "In the Morning and Amazing" and "Close Your Eyes To See" but the rest of the songs on the album, musically and vocally, sound so similar to me that they simply mesh together and not in a good way. At least on Juturna, I could differentiate between the songs a lot better.

I still like this band alright, I have no doubt these guys are all talented as hell (because I know they are) but if their next album is as uninspiring as this one was to me I may have to give up all fhope for this band.

Anonymous (July 7, 2007)

to be completely honest.
people who say that circa survive doesn't make original or even thought-provoking and listenable music, they need to provide me an example of a band that does it for them.
because i love these guys and i have studied them for some time now and whenever i show their stuff to people i get the same reaction...
"wow, that's different, i like it." thats basically it....
these guys do have what the music industry is lacking today, and that is originality.
before you put these guys down, tell me... who does it better?

treos (July 6, 2007)

one of the few cds i plan to buy

Anonymous (July 6, 2007)

Good album . . . "Kicking Your Crosses Down" is a great song.

mikeinflames (July 6, 2007)

i saw these guys open for saves the day and .moneen. a while back. and they blew ass. their music was boring as shit. it was the longest 30 minute set i have ever witnessed. they just wouldn't leave the stage.

AphasiacIIC (July 6, 2007)

i liked anthony greene in saosin, but i cant stand this band. the cover art is really nice though

Anonymous (July 6, 2007)

Circa survive is made up of great musicians but they cannot produce anything worth listening to. This album just sound like a watered down Juturna . And juturna isn't even that great. To me the best stuff they made so far is the inuit sessions.

Anonymous (July 6, 2007)

circa gay

Piata (July 6, 2007)

I tried giving this album a few listens and I just can't get into it. Bland, boring and unremarkable describe this CD perfectly.

Anonymous (July 6, 2007)

score is for those who like these gay ass bands

Anonymous (July 6, 2007)

on being shit.

mcgregor107 (July 6, 2007)

This was surprisingly good.

Anonymous (July 6, 2007)

this band is shit.First cd HORRIBLE!!!!

SydBarrett420 (July 6, 2007)

Enjoyed the prvious album more, but the other commentors are right, some of Circa's material is sooo boring.

Anonymous (July 6, 2007)

Horrible

Anonymous (July 6, 2007)

i cant believe people like this garbage. shit sucks. anthony green sucks. saosin sucks.

Anonymous (July 6, 2007)

album sucks. band sucks.

SilentStorms (July 6, 2007)

First off, I think the artwork from both cds are top-fucking-notch. Musically, I found this similar to their first LP; relatively boring then amazing then overplayed. I find they don't have lasting value but as is the same as their previous album, some songs are fucking fantastic, and some are passable. I still think Green should do some random screaming again. Oh and the new Sounds Of Animals Fighting makes my top 10 for most dissappointing records of last year. But I digress, if you like Juturna you'll like this too.

Anonymous (July 6, 2007)

score is for husker du's "the biggest lie."