Send "Fair To Midland " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Sputnikmusic |
 It’s hard to not qualify the greatness that is Arrows and Anchors; nearly every thing done here can be so, so, so easily traced back to El Cielo and Catch Without Arms. Yeah, it’s heavier as a general rule, and while Darroh Sudderth may have more range than Gavin Hayes has ever had, his vocals still serve the same incredibly melodic and soothing function. This is a band that takes that entrancing alternative rock sound dredg ‘pioneered’ and adds in a myriad of new quirks and facets, and with that I can finally say: Arrows and Anchors is the best album of the year so far. Period.The magic of the album lies in how many different types of music Fair to Midland can jump between without it ever not distinctly seeming necessary. For every chugging alternative riff, for every piercing wale, for every majestic instrumental bridge, there is a banjo driven verse, a synth led monologue, a thrash chorus, or just an 11 minute progressive masterpiece. The album jumps through so many distinct moments phases that’s its impossible to distinguish them all: the key is they’re all so natural it never even seems like Fair to Midland are doing something strange or weird. Which is good, because if that was the case it would take away from the amazingly well crafted songs. Fair to Midland’s unique songwriting approach isn’t of the basic mess with basic song structure to create variety range. Instead, the band give each song an individual identity; you’ll remember “Uh Oh” as the pop song with the low key verse and soaring chorus, “Amarillo Sleeps on my Pillow” as the ‘banjo-prog’ song drifting through folk and thrash with little distinction, “Rikki Tikki Tavi” as that song, “Golden Parachutes” the one that the chorus blows you away every single goddamn time…I could go on for every song here, but it’s unnecessary: the album does that for me....full text |
| Allmediareviews |
| I suppose for those who don't read the board religiously (who may only find this blog, which as I've said before, is rather scary and frightening to me, but 80-90% of those finding this blog I suspect are only looking for a leak/link which they won't find of course), it's worth passing along. I could have a lot to say about this, good and/or bad. But as I posted on twitter, my fears and now just acceptance of the production issues with it sound true from it. No matter, I shall be purchasing a copy at Cheapo on Tuesday (along with the new Yes album, and cost-free thankfully, thanks to the gf's bday gift). no matter how good or bad it is, i am excited about my 10th time seeing them in concert in Minnesota on Saturday July 16th. Despite the sauna at Station 4 and not spending the evening with my best friend on his bday (we'll be hanging during the day at least)....full text |
| Revolvermag |
| This restless Texas prog-metal outfit, best known as the former protégés of Serj Tankian (and the best Tool-aping act since Chevelle), have yet to make an epic game-changer of an album, but Arrows & Anchors, their fourth, comes close. Sprawling and ornery and darker than anything else they’ve done, it’s a fulminating mass of Brooklyn hipster rumination (“Short-Haired Tornado”), mouth-breathing thrash (“Rikki Tikki Tavi”), and random instrumentals. The most interesting track here is the very weird “Amarillo Sleeps on My Pillow,” a mash-up of prog, country, and hard rock as awkward as it is awesome. ALLISON STEWART...full text |
Fair To Midland lyrics
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