Search - Cave in :: Antenna

Underrated

moxy silver | 03/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I highly recommend this for anyone burnt out on all the emo/punk/pop/core/whatever clone bands out there, this will restore your faith in rock and roll.

Magnetic and at once grandiose and unassuming, Cave In dream and wander the cosmic planes w/a somewhat unique clarity and cogniscant in-the-moment presence of being that suggests a centeredness and restraint which is startling.

Lyrically, they are simple and poignant without being cheesy or preachy; rather, their simple poetry works in inconspicuous synergy with the music.

Sonically and verbally, Cave In masterfully create an atmosphere which draws the listener into a dreamworld, yet they do it with a tempered and tactful restraint that actually heightens the crest and momentum of it's emotional relevance. Focusedly and unflinchingly ethereal and dreamy, while un-selfconcious.



I know this all sounds pompous and pretentious on paper, but it's true. This is a great album."

One of my favorite all-time albums

JWK | Dallas, TX USA | 08/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"WHen I was a teenager (Jr. High and High School-ish), I loved music. Every single day I came home and listened to the same basic rotation of albums; Nirvana "Nevermind," Smashing Pumpkins "Siamese Dream," Radiohead "The Bends," Toad the Wet Sprocket "Dulcinea," etc. 20 CDs was all I needed. Age has made me somewhat jaded; I now own around 500 albums and very, very few give me the same rush I used to feel when listening to the same album over and over. In 2003, from virtually out of nowhere, Cave In's "Antenna" had that extremely rare mix of melodic, edgy rock that has kept me listening fairly regularly for 3 years straight.



Hardcore fans hate this record, because it sounds commercial, though it never really was. Even the catchier tunes (the album's 3 singles: Inspire, Anchor, Penny Racer) were a bit too obtuse for regular radio play. A few fans even use the dreaded words "sell out." Me, I don't care about any of that. I just like good music, which "Antenna" has in spades. Of course, considering Cave In's metal background, this album is quite surprising, even if you followed the band's last couple of albums (the brilliant "Jupiter" and the fantastic "Tides of Tomorrow") began the band's voyage into quasi-commercialism.



As for the album itself, "Antenna" does not make a single misstep. Not one. All 12 songs are rediculously well-written, guitar crunching, Thom Yorke-esque choir boy vocals (Oops! There's that comparison again), prog, punk, pop, perfect collection of songs. "Lost in the Air" is simply gorgeous. "Stained Silver" has enough fist-pumping, epinepherine-rushing power to cause a heart attack. And the Brit-poppy ballad "Beautiful Son" and the lengthy prog-suite "Seafrost" are two of the best back-to-back tracks ever released on album format. Though I'm admittedly biased, this is in my top 25 albums of all-time. The album sits surprisingly well next to the lofty company of bands like Radiohead, Wilco, My Morning Jacket, etc. The best album released in 2003.



Overall: 10 out of 10."