CHVRCHES - Every Open Eye


CHVRCHES
Every Open Eye
2015

Sophomore slump be damned, CHVRCHES are going to bring the thunder whether the world thinks they are capable or not. Showing that their debut album was not a fluke Every Open Eye picks up right where The Bones of What You Believe left off, electropop goodness. This record is perhaps a bit more light in some areas, but still has those same songs with teeth that CHVRCHES have become famous for. Soaring synthy tones punctuated by Lauren Mayberry's absolutely exquisite voice this album is exactly what you want and maybe just a touch more. This record has a bit more shine on it than The Bones of What You Believe perhaps foreshadowing the groups surge into the mainstream but it is still miles away for anything anyone else is doing in the genre. The first single from the record "Never Ending Circles" is also perhaps the best as it allows the boys of the group to really showcase their producing talents while letting Mayberry really open up her voice and sing to the cheap seats. That is when they are at their best, when things get loud and maybe a little bit sad but that hopeful nature of the genre.

On a recent podcast Lauren equaited electropop to the classic emo bands of the early 2000's like Jimmy Eat World and Death Cab for Cutie and that is a very astute observation. Both seek to capture the feelings of the youth today even though the delivery method is different. You get that same emotional response when you listen to Clarity as you do when you listen to a CHVRCHES record. Taking the best of what is in the zeitgeist and making music with it is tantamount to both genres and is really clear in Every Open Eye. Where CHVRCHES does suffer is in the slower tracks, there seems to be a bit to much 80s shine and not enough grit for those tracks to really succeed. You want Mayberry really letting loose not hiding away as she does on tracks like "Afterglow". However in the end Every Open Eye is a really stellar album from a band at the top of their game.

8.7 out of 10

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