You can tell that these guys listen to a lot of Modest Mouse and Hot Hot Heat. A LOT of Modest Mouse and Hot Hot Heat!! Not that that's a bad thing. They've somehow managed to borrow some of the best aspects of both bands without smothering their own unique voice in the process. The end result is a poppy post-punk onslaught of dissonant melodies and dance-ready rhythms.
Though at times the album art (which features a painting of a sandwich with dinosaur appendages surfing up a wave of blood and skulls) can be a little more engaging than the actual music, the occasionally repetitive hooks are never boring. Call Me Lightning is a band of musicians who understand music, and The Trouble We're In is a structurally sound and dynamically effective album from start to finish.
Bad production is the only thing really keeping this good record from being great. I probably could have produced this album, and the last time I tried producing anything, people died. It almost sounds like the mastering process was skipped completely, leaving very little oomph to a band whose style owes much of its appeal to oomph. Oomph. Fortunately, the unpredictable hooks and energetic performances almost always make up for the hollow, monotonal sound quality.
Why don't you just buy this album? It's pretty good, and honestly, what else were you gonna do?
2.5/4
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