If I had any guts... I would have cited this as the Best Album of 2013. I haven't had an album emotionaly ground & devastate me like this in ages.
I can't count the number of nights I stayed awake at night, starring blankly at the ceiling while singing along to every fucking song on this album.
When I went about navigating life through my late 20's... I sorta knew I had the safety net of my 30's ahead of me. I sorta feel like I'm no longer afforded that luxury and things are quickly becoming a shit show.
I haven't really gone out of my way to read reviews for this album... I've sorta emotionally invested myself into this record and fear misinterpretations of its themes and meanings.
I do however want to go on record and say that when I listen to "Pretending to be Brave" - I feel that there's a sense of "one last gasp".
Hating the Criminal, Sore Toes and Elbows, and Problem Solvers immediately jump to mind when I make a statement like that.
Then there's the track With the Sea at My Back... I can't think of a better song to have my ashes fired out of a cannon to when I die.
You truly can't go wrong with any song on this album... but here are the Stand out Tracks: