When I first saw Mewithoutyou it was at an all dayer. I didn’t know who they were and their vocalist Aaron Weiss came out looking like a modern depiction of Jesus, rambling like a madman. I didn’t really ‘get’ it at the time, but the moment I heard Catch for Us the Foxes I knew I’d watched a great band at that gig and not really known it. Catch Us the Foxes saw the band unfairly lumped into the punk, emo, post-hardcore scene although it was clear they didn’t fit there with the religious folklore theme of their lyrics and subsequent albums Brother, Sister and It’s All Crazy! It’s All False! It’s All a Dream! It’s Alright saw their more rock tinged side make way for an experimental folk sound with a lot more emphasis on the lyrics.
Mewithoutyou’s fifth and latest album Ten Stories is a culmination of everything that the band have done before. February 1878 is clearly the sequel to January 1979, a rocking brooding little number full of distortion and intelligent angst that gets under your skin in exactly the same way as the bands earlier material did. Foxes Dream of the Log Flume has the deep grooving bass lines, rhythmic drumming and classic vocal delivery that first compelled me to be interested in the band. While songs like Elephant in The Dock and Aubergine have the feel of the bands more folk elements but Elephant in The Dock especially has a twisted and dramatic undertone to it making it less twee than what the band have created previously.
Since Catch for Us the Foxes I haven’t found Mewithoutyou as infectious. Ten Stories doesn’t really change that feeling but it is great to see a rock band continue to progress, adapt and challenge their sound. I can’t see this winning the band any new fans but for old fans, I’m pretty sure you’ll be happy with this album.
[Rating: 3]
www.mewithoutyou.com
