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 Caught in the Carousel "There will be music despite everything"
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Meridene
Something Like Blood
Amble Down
Meridene has a lot to say. From the weight of religious expectations to suburban infidelities, it's all contained on this Wisconsin quartet's sophomore effort, Something Like Blood. Their up tempo, poppy alt-rock sound belies the depths of the lyrics but listen closely to tracks like "Written Like Mad Sonnets" and you'll get a better feel for the intensity and intelligence of this band.
Musically, they sound a lot like other alternative bands (Death Cab for Cutie and Arcade Fire both spring to mind) but very few of those bands ever used a horn section so well or so subtly. Led by frontman Trevor Carl Ives (also on guitar) with Dave Power on drums, Britta Hetzel on bass and Paul Brandt on keyboards, Meridene delivers a tight, albeit brief (only 9 tracks) follow up to their 2008 debut You're Not Pretty, You're Worse. On tracks like "Parade of Fools" Meridene combines powerful guitar riffs with intricate keyboards to create an energy that carries through most of the album. But then they slow things down with tracks like "Bible Belt," a contemplative, introspective look at the burden of religious piety and expectations.
While Meridene is reminiscent of many other bands, they somehow manage to also be very unique. That ability to make their music familiar and exciting at the same time is what makes listening to Something Like Blood so enjoyable and what will help them to create more albums like this in the future. I'm sure they have a lot more to say...
—Pamela Obenchain
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