Customer Reviews

Xerxes

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Know that feeling when you're eating breakfast and the sun is screaming in the window and you want to close the curtains but you hesitate, thinking 'Hey - the sun is a warm, enriching thing - I'll leave it open'? Well, that's how Arcwelder can sound at times to me, particularly on the opening cut to "Xerxes" ("Smile") which shimmers with Bill Graber's linear guitar lines. "Passing Thought" showcases the band at its accessible best, with galloping drums and a rolling guitar line that beckons, like a dazzling pied piper, to be followed.

I prefer this album because drummer Scott Macdonald writes more of the songs (even the instrumental romp "Freebird") and has come into a stronger focal point in the band, balancing the vocal duties roughly 50/50 with Bill Graber. "Change" is brilliant, lilting along effortlessly with the vocal lines. Bill's composition "Let Down" strikes a perfect balance between his linear shimmer and a dreamy, floating chorus. "Down To The Wire" showcases the elemental whirl that makes this band so enticing in a live context, and the group composition "Attic" , which constantly threatens an ugly collision, interweaves both Bill and Scott's songwriting strengths AND vocals at their rockin' best.

This album has more grace and a feeling of accomplishment than its excellent forerunner "Pull" and makes for a more consistently enjoyable listen.

...but just doesn't have the melodic edge of the earlier stuff. Buy the previous albums before adding this to your collection.

With Xerxes, Arcwelder's fourth album, the band is unfortunately beginning to run out of ideas. Some of the songs ("Smile," "Passing Thought") are reminiscent of earlier efforts. Others (particularly "All Mixed Together") trade in Arcwelder's classic power-pop sound for more of a classic rock cliche. However, the album is still quite enjoyable. "Let Down" is one of the best songs they have ever written -- up there with "And Then Again" and "Such a Very Long Time." With the first two albums no longer available, this is well worth buying. But if you're new to the band, start with "Pull."