Circa Survive

Item: Juturna
Author: Mark Fisher

Juturna

(2005)

Reviewed by Mark Fisher

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Label Equal Vision RecordsDecapolisMay 2005

emo post-hardcore

Circa Survive is bound to make quite a stir with their debut album, Juturna, on Equal Vision Records (Bane, The Rocking Horse Winner, Armor for Sleep). Formed by vocalist Anthony Green (Saosin) and his childhood friend Colin Frangicetto (This Day Forward) the band was quickly signed off the strength of their demos and soon fans of creative music across the genres will know their songs by heart.

From the moment the mid-tempo swagger of the album's opening track "Holding Someone's Hair Back" hits you are caught up in this album. That's only where the journey begins though. The exploratory "In Fear and Faith" delivers an intimate look at a relationship, comparing its slow death to a winter that doesn't seem like it will ever end. "We're All Thieves", my personal favorite, bursts off the CD with a desperation so intriguing I'd be tempted to call this emo as Green sings "I long to find a cure for the feeling I find in these chords / I smile as it burns..." Better yet, I'd be tempted to like emo again if it were still like this. The CD's final moment "Meet me in Montauk" is an acoustic track that could have easily been on Jeremy Enigk's "Return of the Frog Queen."

Perhaps it's the striking and unique sound of Green's voice, a sort of cross between Sunny Day Real Estate/Fire Theft's Jeremy Enigk and Jane's Addiction's Perry Farrell, or perhaps it's the circular guitars that provide layer upon layer of intricate melodies. Maybe it's the solid foundation the rhythm section provides, pulling the sounds together into powerhouse song after powerhouse song. Whatever it is that makes this album special, it's destined to be one of the year's best. The lyrical content here is very "realistic" and honest, so I wouldn't recommend Juturna for those bothered by that sort of thing. If you enjoy bands like Further Seems Forever, Days Away, and Sunny Day Real Estate / Fire Theft then you'll dig Circa Survive.

3/4