Staring At The X

vinyl with download. with their sophomore record, forest fire reject the 'what's next' attitude plaguing so many of the nyc / brooklyn scene, innovating at their own pace while maintaining a traditionalist's focus on songwriting. 'staring at the x' is an electrifying leap forward from the cosmic americana of their debut, 'survival', more highly praised in some quarters than contemporious releases by fleet foxes and bon iver and named one of our top ten albums of the year. for their latest, self-recorded effort, forest fire renew the focus on instant-classic hooks and lyrics that have earned them favourable comparisons with contemporaries like the walkmen or occasional tourmates phosphorescent, but bring a new complexity to their sound. this new ambition pays dividends. 'staring at the x' brings together swaggering, guitar-led breakdowns that recall nyc forebears velvet underground or television with romantic, darkly insistent british new-wave-styled pop; even floyd-worthy extended space-outs make an appearance, particularly in sinister doom-motorik album centerpiece 'they pray execution style.' from album opener 'born into' with its insinuating buildup and fuzzed melodic counterpoints, through the infectious, sharp-as-a-knife chorus of first single 'the news' and from ghosty buddy holly rave-down 'blank appeal,' which cuts guitar buzzwalls into its last-slowdance pacing, through post-apocalyptic album closer 'visions in plastic' - 'staring at the x' is tied together by thresher's soulful, world-weary drawl, backed at times by guest vocalist shilpa ray, as well as stormann (who takes over lead vocal responsibilities once, to haunting effect, on 'they pray execution style'). on fat cat.