Brookhaven
Transitive Verses
[Expel; 2005; Instrumental Rock]
Rating: 7.8
expelrecords.com

The follow-up to Brookhaven's 2001 Everything That Rises Must Rise is more of an evolution than some bands see in their career, and less of a revolution than many see between records. Comparing the records is like witnessing a child go from a stumbling walk to a full on run without ever falling. They keep what is good (the forward momentum) and change what could be better (the missed beats).

What did they keep? Warm guitar melodies, signature combination of organic and programmed beats, hints of the post-rock aesthetics, some fuzzed out basslines. That, and the willingness to rock out at a moment's notice...

What got left behind this time? The spacey, ambient drones have taken a backseat to punkier chords, while tracks on ETRMR seemed to compete for dominance, stronger song composition and arrangement on Transitive Verses make for a more peaceful coexistence. That, and they've given themselves a hard product to top next time.