The Dear Hunter are, according to wikipedia, an indie rock group. I'd just like to note that. Wikipedia thinks The Dear Hunter are indie rock. I'm smart enough to know that they are actually modern progressive rock - and a project that came out of the ashes of Casey Creszenzo's previous band, post hardcore act, The Receiving End of Sirens. Though, with "The Color Spectrum", I'm not so sure of their genre tags anymore. This collection of nine EP's characterized by colors (and two shades!) ranges emotions in accordance to their themes based on corresponding color.
For instance, Red is angry (or rather maximal and larger than life), Yellow and, to a lesser extent, Green are happy, and both folky, while Blue and White are sad and et cetera. The well informed music-goer is most likely painfully aware of the existence and background of the genre-bending release, as fans have been going crazy over it. In fact, because I'm about four months late to the party, I no longer have the option to buy "The Color Spectrum" on vinyl.
And that hurts.
I just don't really know what to say. Thirty-six tracks featuring some amazing performances, and I'll never physically own it, be able to spin it. At the height, songs like "This Body", "Trapdoor", "Misplaced Devotion", and most importantly, "Crow and Cackle" get me at my most emotional state, whether it be angry, sad, or - is the word - nostalgic? They range various places, and yet remain at a consistent pace that I can keep up with.
Sometimes, I might run a bit ahead. Most notably, the songs on Orange, which feel less an emotion and more an episode of Rawhide, seemed to be the lowest point across the whole two hours and twenty minutes.
And each EP, even those that stand well by themselves, have some low points. Aside from Orange, White and Red almost feel like they're filler. Almost. The songs don't seem to be doing anything too different or risky, but they also aren't actively trying to bring you out of the atmosphere.
I like this, and for a reason. There's something difficult to describe about an album, but I like to call it highs and lows. Basically, the best albums I've ever heard have high points, and then low dips, and when all is over and done with they keep you interested through unpredictability and/or frustration, while managing to make your perspective more bright than it might be if the stronger tracks were next to eachother instead of being spaced across the album evenly.
The Dear Hunter pull this off brilliantly. Which is why this release is most definitely one of my favorites of the year. There are a million other things I could say about "The Color Spectrum" still, but I feel this review is already getting a bit long. Just one last thing: Casey's voice is better than it's ever been, and that by itself is worth the score.
9.6
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