mewithoutYou - Ten Stories (2012)

Probably my all-time favorite band, mewithoutYou's latest album Ten Stories signifies some interesting changes for the band. Foremost, a step away from their former label Tooth & Nail records and releasing this album independently, as well as another departure in sound. 2009's It's All Crazy! It's All False! It's All A Dream It's Alright may have been a major curveball for fans not expecting the folk-as-fuck direction the band took, but it was definitely a necessary measure: they've returned to the sound they developed through Catch for Us the Foxes and the triumphant Brother, Sister (sorry, A to B fans, if you're looking for the harsh post-hardcore of their debut), but now utilize the lyrical themes and vocal melodies played with on It's All Crazy. Such is demonstrated on opener "February 1878" , while new styles are explored on "Cardiff Giant" which may very well be the happiest song they have ever recorded. Whatever the sound may be, however, Aaron Weiss' songwriting is as strong as ever, telling the story of a trainwreck, releasing circus animals into the wilderness and using these characters as a means of telling introspective parables relating to Weiss' own personal struggles.

The end result is the perfect culmination of how the band has grown for over the past ten years together serving as both a flawless testimony to their music and also the most accessible album they have ever made. Definitely one for newcomers to try out and figure out what parts they liked and where that should take them next in their rich discography. As mentioned before, this is the band's foray into independently releasing music, so I cannot recommend enough that--if you liked the samples or love the band--by all means, support mewithoutYou by purchasing Ten Stories if you can.

Sample: "Fox's Dream of the Log Flume"

- Jake