ALBUM REVIEW: Citizen’s Long-Awaited Album, ‘Life In Your Glass World’
ALBUM REVIEW: Citizen’s Long-Awaited Album, ‘Life In Your Glass World’
The band knows how to keep you on your toes.
Words by: Ysabela De Ocampo
Citizen finally shares their highly anticipated record Life In Your Glass World, released via Run For Cover Records. The band challenged themselves to craft a record that’s unlike anything they’ve created before. Elements of impassioned emo anthems, raw noise rock and indie pop, all come together to celebrate the liberation the band has been able to get over their creative destiny. Citizen took the recording process home to Toledo, Ohio. Frontman, Mat Kerekes, built a studio in his garage, proving that the band doesn’t need anyone but themselves. Citizen recorded Life In Your Glass World without limitations. Now they share their vision on this new chapter, and it’s well worth the wait.
The band kicks in the door with the opening track, “Death Dance Approximately.” It sets the tone for the record instrumentally and lyrically. Driving disco-like drum beats, layers of distorted and clean guitars and thick basslines are introduced on this track. Kerekes’ signature chant-like vocals cry out, “I’ve got this aching that’s taken over. Every day it keeps on getting a little worse, I beat myself down until I cave in.” The energy is high throughout and sets the stage for the following single, “I Want To Kill You.” It’s even more energetic and urgent than its predecessor, heard in the tensive chords, leathery bass and guitar lines. The track builds the most on the familiar line, “It keeps getting worse, it’s worse, it’s worse!” before throwing you into a dancing chorus. “I Want To Kill You” has a melodic hook in the bridge, the overall defining moment for the track that will have you singing along, “I just want to play god for myself I just want war and nothing else.” These first two songs are electrifying, and overall cements the vigor of the record.
On tracks like “Blue Sunday,” “Thin Air,” and “Call Your Bluff,” Citizen is able to show off how they’ve sonically matured. Compared to older work, these three lean towards the alternative-indie side. They ease off the urgency of the first two songs. Kerekes delivers melancholic verses and crooning choruses accompanied by strutting basslines and swirling synths. Citizen’s use of clean-toned guitars and twinkling melodies under the main riffs keep the tracks light. “Call Your Bluff” brings spirits back to a high with its gyrating drums, pulsating bass and ringing guitar riffs. The band still is able to showcase their emotive lyricism on lighter songs like these, “I know what it is to hate yourself. I know how it feels to want to be someone else. All of the things you say, swallow the hurt, it is your poison.” Kerekes adds a quiet layer of low harmonies under the verses, which bloom into harmonies for the chorus. This adds a sense of distance in the vocals that still keep the sound big without being heavy.
Speaking of heavy, “Pedestal” erupts with thunderous and stormy drums. After briefly introducing chiming guitars, the verse becomes moody and pensive with forceful vocals and a meaty bassline. At the chorus, it starts to build just enough to keep you at your toes. It’s full of attitude as it expands, “I showed you my faults, and then you shoved it in my face. I gave you my all, and then you shoved it in my face” Kerekes chants. Throughout its tantalizing production, it teases listeners — never going into a full throttle. Luckily, it’s only the halfway point of the record. “Fight Beat” follows with a dense and funky bassline. It starts and stops so abruptly, then returns with a futuristic synth that feels like you’re on a mission in outer space. Presenting as somewhat ominous — like a trip to mars — Citizen explores new sonic territory with this refreshing direction. “Black and Red” follows with it’s disco-beat, parting the gloomy clouds of the last two tracks. Similar to the verve seen in the record’s opening, “Black and Red” brings an effervescent drum beats and soaring choruses. This track keeps spirits high without exhausting you as the record approaches its closing.
“Glass World” is the most stripped back song on this record. Kerekes’ vocals come to a croon, “If life in your glass world makes you feel so alone Then why don’t you say so? And I’ll meet you somewhere when the world turns dark and cold If you would just say so” Lyrically, the album starts to take an uplifting turn. “Winter Buds” correspondingly is another raw track. The simplicity of the percussion makes way for the multilayered guitars that give it a definitive and reflective feel. As vocal parts are brought forth more, the lyrics hit harder. “Tell me what you want. Tell me if I’m strong enough. I’ll give you what you want.” Citizen throws another curveball by escalating the track into a brief and cutting guitar solo before it’s last chorus.
Life In Your Glass World closes out with the profound and lively track, “Edge of the World.” It’s the final punch of the record, picking up the energy of the beat with the dancing drums and thick basslines to drive it. Its uplifting lyrics come with a sense of urgency when the instrumental builds up, “You took something so beautiful and covered it with sorrow. I need to get my head straight; I need to stand a bit taller. Although I feel undone, I got so much to offer.” This final track sounds like a culmination of all the songs on this record. It swells into what is arguably the best line within the single, “But at the end of the day, there is beauty in tragedy. I hope you find what you need, I hope it’s everlasting. I hope you learn to love yourself.”
This album is the pinnacle of Citizen’s work. The band uses many striking new elements to add to the sound they’re known for since their beginning in 2009. They don’t slow down, even after all these years they prove that there is still room for growth. The same emotional drive behind each song is present, similar to the band past works. But Life In Your Glass World showcases Citizen’s maturity, making a record that’s anything but boring and expanding on the sound they had before. The shift to recording at home, on their own time, gave the band full creative freedom that’s easily heard in Life In Your Glass World. The band says, “There was no pressure at all and moving at our own pace, allowed the songs to be a little more fleshed out.” Kerekes once again delivers hard-hitting and very personal lyrics that most can relate, and sing along to. The addition of unique rhythmic elements help translates those emotions in this eclectic collection of songs. Citizen keeps you on edge from the beginning of the record, and somehow still leaves you hungry for more by the end.
