Cursive - Mama, I'm Swollen

It's looking more like The Ugly Organ was a one-time stroke of brilliance, but Cursive is still a talented and unique indie/emo band that can play a good song. I feel like Happy Hollow hit too heavily on the same message over and over again, and Swollen is more general angst and anger about someone who wonders what his life has become. "From the Hips" is fairly mainstream sounding for the band, but still feels like quintessential Cursive with some clever lyrics as Tim Kasher bounces between morose singing and strained shouting. The album in general is less manic and more downplayed, but there are still moments of intensity and enough interesting things going on in the mellow parts to keep it fairly interesting through out.

"In the Now" is a fairly disappointing opening track, repetitive and monotonous, but after "From the Hips" things are generally better. I like "I Couldn't Love You" even if something about it bothers me subconsciously, and "Donkeys" has similar merits going for it. "Mama, I'm Satan" is one of my favorite on the album lyrically along with having a strong loud part later on, and "Let Me Up" is also solid. "What Have I Done?" is very reminiscent of the powerful "Staying Alive" from the end of The Ugly Organ, which is fine by me because I generally think slow-building songs that explode at the end as the singer is worn out by the effort of his own passion are a good way to end an album. My copy came with a download code for some bonus tracks, two original songs and three demo versions of ones on the regular album. The new songs were cut for a reason and aren't mixed very well, and the demos are forgettable, but it's hard to be bothered by more music. I don't love Swollen but I do like it enough as a fan of the band.