Reviewed! Blue October - Sway
Beginning with the all-too-short “Breathe, It’s Over,” a
haunting harbinger of things to come and perfect segue to the album’s title
track, Sway boasts a number of
moments that seem all too familiar (“Angels In Everything,” “Bleed Out”),
though there are instances in which the band step outside their comfort zone,
such as the electro-fueled “Light You Up,” the grungy, cocksure bravado of
"Hard Candy," and the all-too-enjoyable instrumental closing track "To Be,"
instances that ultimately save Sway
from the lurch. “Not Broken Anymore” stands as a highlight moment on Sway, a penultimate track that
effectively uses subtle string arrangements to enhance the overarching emotion
of the track, causing it to stand out above the rest of the album.
With Sway, the
band has gone back to the very same well that has allowed them to exist for
seven full lengths, though it’s fairly hard to judge if this is the band merely
returning to the status quo or if this is actually the start of something good.
There’s growth here sure, but just how much is surely an arguable point.
Grade: C+
Go Download: “Light You Up”
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