Customer Reviews

Mama, I'm Swollen

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Cursive moves in a different direction with their new album, "Mama, I'm Swollen." The veteran musicians, in their eighth release, still make commentary on the institution of religion but do so in a more concise and uniformed way. "M, IS" is a hauntingly beautiful album top to bottom. Tim's strong songwriting abilities seem to have matured even further and the CD booklet, Tim's original handwritten lyrics, is an added touch. Passing on the first track ("In the Now" is a little too catchy and seems out of place on the album), this album features tracks that remain driven towards the same themes but remain enjoyably diverse. Tracks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10 deserve particular attention.

It's looking more like The Ugly Organ was a one-time stroke of brilliance, but Cursive is still a talented and unique indie/emo band that can play a good song. I feel like Happy Hollow hit too heavily on the same message over and over again, and Swollen is more general angst and anger about someone who wonders what his life has become. "From the Hips" is fairly mainstream sounding for the band, but still feels like quintessential Cursive with some clever lyrics as Tim Kasher bounces between morose singing and strained shouting. The album in general is less manic and more downplayed, but there are still moments of intensity and enough interesting things going on in the mellow parts to keep it fairly interesting through out.

"In the Now" is a fairly disappointing opening track, repetitive and monotonous, but after "From the Hips" things are generally better. I like "I Couldn't Love You" even if something about it bothers me subconsciously, and "Donkeys" has similar merits going for it. "Mama, I'm Satan" is one of my favorite on the album lyrically along with having a strong loud part later on, and "Let Me Up" is also solid. "What Have I Done?" is very reminiscent of the powerful "Staying Alive" from the end of The Ugly Organ, which is fine by me because I generally think slow-building songs that explode at the end as the singer is worn out by the effort of his own passion are a good way to end an album. My copy came with a download code for some bonus tracks, two original songs and three demo versions of ones on the regular album. The new songs were cut for a reason and aren't mixed very well, and the demos are forgettable, but it's hard to be bothered by more music. I don't love Swollen but I do like it enough as a fan of the band.

Let me start by saying this is a very good CD. Unfortunately, it's not what I expected or wanted from Cursive's newest release. I'm a big fan of "The Ugly Organ," and "Happy Hollow" is one of my favorite CDs. "Mama, I'm Swollen" sounds more like a release from The Good Life, which is not a bad thing by any means, but I was really hoping for another great upbeat release from Cursive. The first and last songs were the most disappointing for me (Tracks 1 and 10), leaving only 8 quality songs on this CD. I'd have to say Donkeys (Track 4) is my favorite. I recommend this CD to any fan of Cursive, but especially fans of the Good Life who are looking for something a little more than "Help Wanted Nights."

Picks up right where Happy Hollow left off. This time there is a lot more self reflection and the whole album has a darker feel.

It gets better every time I listen to it. The CD comes with wonderful art as well.

Unlike their previous albums, none of the songs on this CD will do anything to inspire you or make you say "wow" when the song is over. It's a lot of "that was alright" and too much "next...". Disappointing to say the least.

this is the blood of cursive ive come to expect from them. dark tones, sadness, all the things that you wouldnt think music could make you feel. i feel a little of The Good Life in there, and good for me, because i like The Good Life.

I really love cursive, And this CD is Great. But, but, but, i hate the backup vocals on the CD. It is so distracting, and now that i have noticed the creepy rapist backup vocals i can't hear anything else. Tim Kasher's voice is more than enough! Especially on track 6 "We're Going to Hell" the backup guy is going nuts, whispering up a storm. Gahhh!!!

Amazing album. Amazing band. All of these songs are very beautiful and I do love the album but i do not think that it is the best album that they have ever made, but that isn't stopping me from giving it 5 stars. It has somewhat of a different sound from their older music which is not a bad thing by any means. every song on this album is a masterpiece and it is definietly worth buying. I would have to say my favorite song on this album is Donkeys. Once you become a fan of cursive, theres no going back.

Getting an undeserved slagging by the press, it seems critics were preoccupied with Kasher's admittedly repetitive self-loathing...at the expense of incisive songwriting. What on the surface can sound a bit like throwaway babble brims with subversive, structured moodiness, yielding a better produced disc than many past outings, despite lacking many memorable stunners.

I love every track on the cd. Only problem is that it won't play in my car. It'll play on this old stereo I have and in my computer, but won't play in my brand new '08 vw. I don't understand.