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Aurora Borealis

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Cloud Cult is the type of band that makes labelling with a genre difficult. At times experimental, at times folk, at times rock, at times rap/spoken word?, Cloud Cult blend it all together pretty nicely. I first stumbled across their cover of Mr Tambourine Man on the Live for KEXP Volume 3 Compilation. This is their 3rd disc, and may not be a good starting point. Start with The Meaning of 8, fall in love with the band, then come back here.

The tracks here are more cohesive with much less filler than their last album 'They Live on the Sun'. "Breakfast with My Shadow" is a great start to the album and vintage Cloud Cult. This is their MO... straightforward riffs, sing-able melodies, and uplifting harmonized vocals. "Alone..." is upbeat and pounding, and has some nice guitar riffs... I prefer when they are more soulful, compared to when they try to rock. "The Princess Bride" is just that... movie samples over music. Eh, ok.

"As Long As You're Happy" is the centerpiece of the album. Moving, poignant, melodic, and most importantly, memorable. The drums on this track are such a huge improvement from the last album, which were programmed. "Chandeliers" is slow-moving and touching, but doesn't stick. "Buried Poetry" serves nice as an interlude and has some beautiful harmonies within.

"All Together Alone", "My Fictitious Life" and "Lights Inside My Head" are just ok songs, nothing new. "Grappling Hook/Northern Lights" is a great song. Very atmospheric, with some very nice guitar work after a slow start. The end features samples of the lead singer's deceased son, and is hard to listen to. "The Sparks and Spaces" is just blips, beeps, and synths. "Beautiful Boy" is a live track, and very moving, again dedicated to his deceased son. "I Guess This Dream is For Me" is a nice close to the music side of the album... nice lyrics... you really feel the pain this man has gone thru. "State of the Union" uses George W. Bush samples and twists them into some very funny clips.

All in all, this album has its moments... it mainly shows the band's growth and foreshadows where the band will progress to with the next two albums. Try "Meaning of 8", "Advice", and "Feel Good Ghosts" if you haven't yet.

Cloud Cult has adapted and modified the indie experimental guitar rock sound of the last decade and crumbled like a phoenix to rise again as a beautiful requiem for the band's founder's two year old son. Cloud Cult uses sparse vocals and understated melodies in contrast with screaming Crazy Horse guitars, Roland beats, and Psychpop. If you like the experimentation of the Flaming Lips, the psychotic ambiguity of Neutral Milk Hotel, the voice of one on the edge of life and death (a la Nowell, Cobain, Joplin), or ambient brilliance, check these sick Minnesotans out.