Braid, No Coast, 2014

Real-Time First Impression

First listen via NPR

Sixteen years in the making. Well not really, but it has been that long since one of my all time fave albums, Frame & Canvas, came out. Braid are streaming their latest; and I'm stream of consciousnessing it, track by track.

1. "Bang" – Classic Braid. Solid opener. All Bob Nanna. Chris Broach, where you at?
2. "East End Hollows" - “Take these dreams and throw them out the window”
3. "No Coast" – Has been on repeat for a bit. I imagine the Fireside Bowl.
4. "Damages!" - “I can't collect!” Total rocker. Chris Broach pounding through.
5. "Many Enemies" – Another rocker. CB blistering energy. From the 2013 split with Balance and Composure
6. "Pre-Evergreen" – BN back, sweet and introspective.
7. "Put Some Wings On The Kid" – A return to some of the Midwest sound they helped foster and many have tried to duplicate. “That's what we did.”
8. "Lux" – Another tune I've played a bunch from the B&C split. BN gets a rocker.
9. "Doing Yourself In" - “she knows the business, she knows you're in this”
10. "Climber New Entry" – Finally a rockin' CB. “Yeah!” This is a throwback to the early years.
11. "Light Crisis" – Dig that sample to open. BN: “For Chicago I get shy (Chi?)”
12. "This Is Not A Revolution" – Dreamy and mature. I love the vocal interplay.

One listen, straight through. So solid. I don't have a stars or points system for this sort of thing. All you get is I really like it.

Years later, Braid and I continue to grow together. I'm not the same person I was in 1998, and they shouldn't be either. Grown up isn't so bad. The only thing that is consistent is change... Yeah, I know you know... I'm glad Braid are back. Go see them later this month in Asbury at Asbury Lanes. This record is all heart. Remember, our songs are sing along songs.

No Coast is due on July 8th from Top Shelf Records.