Album Release of the Week: The Antlers - Burst Apart

For those of you that were as huge fans of 2009's Hospice as I am, the first thing you're probably looking for in a new album by The Antlers is more of the sad, deeply moving songs that shook the world. With the possible exception of the last track, Putting the Dog to Sleep, Burst Apart does not have the same heavy, heartfelt sound that Hospice had.  The gut-wrenchingly beautiful somber songs of Hospice are replaced with a much more lighthearted, indie pop sound. Why a change in tone? As band frontman Peter Silberman explained to NPR in a recent interview, "We're not particularly sad people, we have a lot of different feelings about things. There's a whole spectrum of emotion to explore, and I think that's what we were trying to do on this record." Despite this decision to stray from being labeled a "sad" band, does Burst Apart stand up in its own right?

The new sound of The Antlers showcased on Burst Apart is quite noticeably nowhere as muddled and spread out as it was on Hospice. Fans of The Antler's breakout album may not even recognize the band at first, due to the abrupt change in sound. Some elements of Hospice, such as the distorted droning tones that were wide-spread throughout the album, are recycled successfully for use on Burst Apart. Silberman's songwriting skills remain strong throughout the album, especially on "Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out" and "Putting the Dog to Sleep". Some may interpret the album as a life cycle of sorts due to the possible references to a dog throughout the album, but I didn't find any story here, only a collection of mostly chilled out, joyful tunes. While fans of the band's last masterpiece may not particularly enjoy this album, new listeners get a cheerful introduction to the wonderful band known as The Antlers.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Favorite Tracks: "No Windows", "Putting the Dog to Sleep"
Least Favorite Track: "Rolled Together"

Buy Burst Apart from Amazon!
or
Steam Burst Apart on NPR's website!