Reflescent Tide's sophomore release, Spring Catalog, is a little hard to categorize. With compelling, uncluttered, at times simplistic bass lines, thundering, minor-key guitar crashes, and guttural vocals sung with intense passion, you might be tempted to label it "metal." But then there are those playful vocal turns that lighten up the whole attitude of the song. Maybe it's more like Hootie and the Blowfish jamming with Metallica. But as soon as you settle into that classification, the 'Tide settles into a mellow acoustic set, or launches into a more futuristic cut, reminiscent of Fold Zandura. Like the Wisconsin weather, if you don't like the style, wait a minute; it'll change. Jeff Weiss, the band's primary songwriter (he wrote or co-wrote all 12 cuts) continues to show growth as a lyricist, drawing on such diverse influences as Rich Mullins, C.S. Lewis and novelist Robert Jordan. On Spring Catalog he explores the dichotomy of faith in an unseen God, of wrestling with the here-and-now while longing for the hereafter, of at once seeking truth while fearing its implications. In "Avendesora" (a reference to the tree of life in Jordan's Wheel Of Time series) Weiss sings, I sat beneath the tree/ That only had one leaf/ Some call it the tree of life/ While I just hide my shame. In "Butterfly Wings" he writes, Sometimes I have it all figured out/ and sometimes I'm lost in this mess/ sometimes I crawl on caterpillar legs/ But this time I'm soaring on butterfly wings. Dark and moody, Spring Catalog is great music for stormy weather, if you happen to have a crackling fire and a hot cup of spiced cider to keep you company.
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