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Artist: mewithoutYou
Album: It’s All Crazy! It’s All False! It’s All a Dream! It’s Alright
Label: Tooth & Nail Records
Release Date: May 19, 2009
Review by: Michael Mayer III
Tracklisting:
- Every Thought a Thought of You
- The Fox, the Crow and the Cookie
- The Angel of Death Came to David’s Room
- Goodbye, I!
- A Stick, a Carrot & String
- Bullet to Binary (Part Two)
- Timothy Hay
- Fig With a Bellyache
- Cattail Down
- The King Beetle on a Coconut Estate
- Allah, Allah, Allah
Does hearing mewithoutYou happy and upbeat scare you? Depending on how you answer that question you’ll know how much you can expect to enjoy their fourth album (referred to as It’s All Crazy! from now on). This album is very upbeat, cheery, and laid back when compared to past releases. That’s more than just ‘alright’ to me.
When they started out with [A-->B] Life there was a great amount of aggression and angst in the songs as Aaron delivered his soon-to-be trademark screaming/yelling of the insanely deep lyrics over loud, brash music. It was intense and a breath of fresh air. As each album came about you could hear the angst and aggression turn into a beautiful soundscape of textures and multiple instruments with Aaron’s style becoming less abrasive. Each album also seemed to have a hint at what direction the next would go even though we didn’t know it at the time. Brother, Sister’s quieter nature and greater use of melody (most point out the ‘Spider’ songs) come to the forefront in this release.
Seeing as I disliked those ‘Spider’ songs for breaking up the flow and being downright weird I can say there’s none of that here. The album flows very well and the fantastic, insightful lyrics we come to expect are stronger than ever. As always, they lead you to reflect about your life and how your living as Aaron can be as blunt as he is mysterious. Then there’s the fairy tale type songs like ‘The Fox, the Crow and the Cookie’ that you know could have a couple different meanings.
Although the lyrics are of the same style the delivery of them certainly isn’t. He doesn’t yell anymore so much as talk and sing. Melody plays a much bigger roll too, which is immediately noticeable on the opening track ‘Every Thought a Thought of You’. His voice even seems like it’s an instrument of it’s own with his ‘Doo doo doo’s’ on ‘Timothy Hay’. Those of you who hated their vocals in the past owe it to yourselves to give this album a try. The music is as beautiful as ever.
There is really not one heavy track on this album either and that’s where people may dislike it. Some may say they’ve lost their passion or excitement, but I beg to differ. They seem to be more passionate than ever about their beliefs (up for interpretation on what those may be) and the music they are creating. MewithoutYou just have a different way of showing it now and it couldn’t be more obvious than with the second part of ‘Bullet to Binary’, which is entirely different than the first one on their debut album. Those two songs can show just how far they’ve come musically and as a group.
Overall: I’ll admit that I miss a bit of the groove they had going on in Catch for Us the Foxes and some of the songs at the end are a bit too quiet for my tastes. Still, It’s All Crazy is the second best album they’ve crafted and a contender for one of the best albums released this year. They have seemingly worked through all of the things in life that were going against them early in their career and have found a peace. I say that because if music is a window to the soul then that’s what I’m seeing.
Gems of this album are: ‘The Angel of Death Came to David’s Room’, ‘Every Thought a Thought of You’, ‘The Fox, the Crow and the Cookie’, ‘Timothy Hay’
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| 03/19/2010 02:44 am | News
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The Advocate 
Day of Fire 
Starfield 
War of Ages 
Demon Hunter 
Above The Golden State 
FFH 
Newworldson 
Wrench in the Works 
The Great Escape 
Memphis May Fire 
Face Your Giants 
Day Of My Escape 
Red Morning Voyage 
The Gun Show 
Meet Brett Callaway (Guitars & Vocals) of Close Your Eyes
Meet Sovereign Strength
Meet Moshe Dayan
We Came As Romans
Sean Patrick Rhorer, Director of A & R at Blood & Ink Records
This Armistice
Leroy Hamp of War of Ages
Creations
Mattie Montgomery of For Today
Vasely Sapunov of Saving Grace
The Fold
Aaron Sprinkle of Fair
Floodgates
Ryan Clark of Demon Hunter
Carlos Salazar of Before There Was Rosalyn
Laz from ALLORNOTHING
Chadwick Johnson of Hundredth
Ben Crist of The Glorious Unseen
Sons of God
I still haven’t heard this CD. I had it posted to my home address, but I’m not visiting till next Tuesday. It’s killing me. I really want to see what I make of it. Cannot wait! I’ve spent days reading the lyrics online. Really excited.
Also, this discussion is immense and I am enjoying it terribly! It’s wonderful when people aren’t shouting at each other but engaging in reasoned debate. Excellent.
Out of interest, what’s the highest number of comments a news post/review has had? I’m new around here!
Tim, this might be one of the top discussions in number. I think only the Newsboys one was more than this…or was it? Hmm. I wonder if there is a way to check all time numbers…
Scott, good word there mate!
Just a side note for Scott,
General revelation- Creation (Ps 19:1-4), History (Dan 2:21 Ex: Preservations of the Jews), Man’s Nature (Ps.139: 13-14), Man’s Conscience (Rom. 2:14-15),
Special Revelation- The Lot (Proverbs 16:33), Dreams (Mat 1:20), Visions(Acts 9 or acts 16:9), Theophanies (The manifestation of God “angel of the Lord” Gen 16:10-13), Angels (Luke 1:26-28), Prophets (2 Sam 23:1-2), Jesus Christ (John 1), The Bible (John 17:17).
These are all the ways God has revealed himself to man.
I hope it is helpful Scott :)
Oh and one lengthy post by Scott got stuck in the spam folder :( (although quite funny in one way) and I just activated it. It’s on the previous page of comments.
Hey, on a side note.. but not really lol. Michael I really enjoyed your review and I just picked up this CD and enjoy it a lot. I completely agree with you on this review. Nice write.
This really has really been an awesome discussion. I guess it shows that at least the new MwY album is making us think a little. Thats a great thing in my book!
Thanks Stephen, haha. Only took 100+ comments for my review to get into the discussion. :D
True, Joel, and I guess for all we know that’s what Aaron’s purpose was in writing this CD, to make us think. Hopefully we’ll find out soon enough.
I listened to Catch for Us the Foxes again over the weekend and I still love that album to death. The bass lines in it are so strong (nearly every one is at the forefront) and have a great groove to ‘em. That’s easily my favorite mwY album and it’s not even close. Also has worked it’s way up to my top 5 all-time… It’s All Crazy! is good but it’s more around [A-->B] Life I think as far as ordering their albums goes.
9 outa 10? Dont think so. Maybe 7 outa 10. Ther otha albums wer 9s, not this 1.
This post needs a spark if it’s ever gonna take over the top spot for all-time most comments. Any ideas? I’m not a big fan of the band… musically… so I don’t have much of a comment on the actual topic itself.
i have a difficult time with critiques of bands, saying their music isn’t that good. however, true music comes from the heart and is not cookie cutter music. I fail to see how this cd in any manner is cookie cutter, and therefore not true music. true, the music may not be utterly groudbreaking or pushing the envelope of musical theory, but my goodness, i gotta give it to mewithoutYou for being the most original band I may know.
What the???? Where did my post go?
Lets try this again…..I have to say that now that Ive had about 2 weeks to “digest” this album musically, I have to say that it has gotten worse for me. I decided to go back and listen to CFUTF and BS and there was such and urgency and landscape with those 2 albums. This one is now coming across flat and completely lacking to me now. Now dont get me wrong, it is “creative” but just because it is, doesn’t make it enjoyable. I remember when a MwY release meant that I had a new favorite cd for like 3 months. This one hardly lasted me 2 weeks. Here’s how I rate it. If I’m sitting at home, and Im like “I want to listen to some MwY”…..I am DEFINITELY not choosing this cd to listen to. Why oh why MwY, why oh why………
johnny: They are the most original band I can think of too, or at least of the ones to come out this decade. I can’t think of another that sounds like ‘em (especially their early work).
Now that it has been two weeks later I can say this album doesn’t seem to have the lasting appeal the others did like Joel said. I’d rather listen to Catch for Us the Foxes or [A-->B] Life instead. This still has some great songs on it but I guess I like mwY with an edge and a groove. I’d probably bump my review down to an 8/10 because of this but too late now. That’s one thing about reviewing an album as soon as it comes out, it’s near impossible to judge lasting appeal.
oh i disagree, this hasn’t left my cd player since it came out! great stuff!
I’ve finally listened to the album. I went home and picked it up on Tuesday. After several extensive listens these are my ‘early conclusions’ (posted originally over at ap.net):
“I have finally heard the new record. I am really enjoying it. The first listen was quite hard as I got adjusted to the lack of electric guitars. But after that I have found plenty to be excited about. Great evolution. I miss the spoken/shouted vocals from the previous albums, especially when they appear on Bullet to Binary Pt.II and that track does leave me wishing they’d kept them for two or three tracks instead of the solitary one… but I’ll check out their first three albums when I’m in that mood.
But seriously, this is an excellent CD. It’s musically diverse, it’s thought-provoking and challenging, it’s humorous iand it’s got those spine-tingling moments that I love about mewithoutYou. Oh and it’s completely crazy and in places one of the most bizarre and weird records I’ve heard for a while.
So yes… I like it. Worth the wait.”
It’s good to hear Kermit the Frog making music again. I had been wishing for a new album from him since I heard him sing “Rainbow Connection” in the Muppet Movie.
this album is awesome.
Comment of the year, right there!
mwy suck – your opinion is welcome I suppose… but I’d suggest a remedial English class to broaden your vocabulary a bit.
Oh man, I totally forgot this album even came out!
this convo died before its time…i just listened for the first time last night and it was a pleasant surprise…the vocals are still a bit tough to swallow, but the melodies seem to make up for it…the lyrics kinda creep me out at times though…maybe that is intentional though…maybe they’re trying to make us think?
just saw this interview at ap http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1127972
not the answers i was hoping for…not so sure about how much we should be covering this band anymore…not that its up to me, but i wouldnt consider them anything close to a christian band or christians in a band…more like a band of people who dont really know what to believe.
Bring on the comments (and controversy)! I am opening this thread back up, be nice and respectful.
brandon, if you want controversy, just wait til everyone hears derek webb’s new album. personally, i don’t want to waste my breath or typing fingers on it or this anymore
Man, I thought that absolute punk interview was great. I still think that the record sounds like Neutral Milk Hotel doing a worship record. I think people often forget that it is ok for bands have real life struggles too. Sometimes they may even be more difficult than for you or I. It’s tough to deal with heavy things when people are going to judge your every move and second guess every decision.
no matter how hard things are, if you can’t muster up words along the lines of “i believe in Jesus Christ alone as my Savior” then you probably shouldn’t consider them a Christian band, something they sort of kind of agree with (aaron has said he doesnt care what you call his band, Christian, Hindu, whatever). I’m not saying I don’t hope the best for them or that I don’t hope they don’t get things figured how, I’m saying if you don’t believe in Jesus Christ then you aren’t a Christian. I’m not saying anything that Romans 10:10 isn’t saying: For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
I believe I mentioned the Derek Webb quite some time ago there Tyler….
yes, i couldnt remember who said it…and after hearing it…i’m not a fan…and not because he isn’t talented…
I’ve heard about the Derek Webb album and it’s choice language. Oh man, that’s going to cause some controversy around these parts when it’s released.
the choice language is the least of my worries…i’m more concerned with his lack of understanding of biblical principles and how it will effect immature Christians who listen to him. the song is basically condemning Christians for saying homosexuality is wrong when there are people dying because of poverty and stuff like that. if God says its wrong, why shouldn’t Christians? it is one thing to try to bring conviction to people to help the poor (good thing to do), but another thing to condemn them for calling a sin a sin.
Oh man oh man oh man oh man…….I’m begging you…….please please please open up a topic regarding Derek Webb and this….ridiculous excuse for a song. I just looked up the lyrics and…….wow. Is this where modern day Christianity is headed????? I mean, where exactly are we going to be different from the rest of the world? Tyler H…..you are exactly on point bro….what happened to calling a sin a sin? Oh man….I could go on forever…We need this as a topic!
Beautiful album.