'Is Survived By' is the anticipated new album from Touche Amore, produced and engineered by Brad Wood (Smashing Pumpkins, Sunny Day Real Estate, etc) and mastered by Hans DeKline (Lisa Loeb, mewithoutYou, etc).'Is Survived By' shows Touche Amore embracing a maturation of their trademark melancholy. The sounds are welcomingly familiar; inspired percussion amid a sea of imaginative guitars and impassioned vocals. However, the underlying unrest is more complex and touching than any previous Touche Amore release before it. Simply put, these are not simple 'love' songs that dwell in the past, but complex 'life' songs about living in the present. Throughout the entire album vocalist/lyricist Jeremy Bolm digs deeper in search of personal catharsis, allowing us to relate to his drive to be clearly heard, truly understood, and unapologetically remembered. 'Is Survived By' not only shows growth in subject matter but musicianship for Touche Amore. The jangly guitar work of Clayton Stevens and Nick Steinhardt is on a new level here. Throughout the release they effortlessly entangle one another to construct beautiful yet unexpected melodies. While the explosive rhythm section of Tyler Kirby and Elliot Babin shines in the frenetic pace they keep. Achieving a stunning balance of hook laden listenability and emotion. Without question, 'Is Survived By' is another masterwork from Touche Amore. More importantly, it is a release that lives up to the promise of past releases while not repeating it. Not a departure, but a continuation down the remarkable road that they alone travel.
R**W
A step forward from TA without veering far from their tried and true methods of making beautiful music
Touche Amore has no problem demonstrating while they're still one of the best bands around with 'Is Survived By'.TA's trademarks are all here and even improved upon, most notably the guitar work.'Survived By' maintains the beautiful, raw emotional delivery of Bolm's thought provoking and stripped-naked lyrics mated blissfully with twangy rhythm guitar riffs and mathematical breakdowns.I was anticipating this record for quite some time and, while maybe not quite as memorable as PTSBBAM, it certainly didn't leave me disappointed in any way.
F**6
Raw and required
This is likely the best, or at least most emotionally convincing, post-hardcore album I have ever heard. Definitely the best from the band and required listening for the genre. Reckless guitars, anthemic shouting, poignant lyrics. Don't skip a moment.
R**O
Great work.
This album is really good. I just got into Touché a few months ago, and have not been able to stop listening to them since. This album deals with a lot of thoughts based on mortality and how people try to leave a mark in this world. It starts out with a very confused outlook, but by the last 3 tracks, it gives you reassuring words that are very meaningful. The instrumentation is very good and despite the fact that the singer mostly screams, they still manage to produce a sound that works.
A**R
Touche Amore is simply amazing
Touche Amore's newest album is by far one of the most refreshing, emotionally honest, and down right overplayable cd's I have purchased all year. Every song gives you a bit of insight into the things happening in your own life, and if you love the classic sound of bands like Glassjaw, Thursday and Thrice then Touche Amore is the band for you. BUY THIS CD!
N**1
Nice to have album for current fans
I like the tone that is set by this album. Nice lyrics, nice beats. wonderful all around. This is a nice to have for current fans,
M**N
Buy this album!
One of my all time favorite records!
B**Y
Four Stars
The record itself is great, but when I got it, the package was really damaged on the corner :(
B**I
GIFT
BOUGHT THIS AS A GIFT, FOR SOMEONE ELSE ,GOT NO COMPLAINTS SO MUST BE WHAT THEY WANTED GOOD FIND THANKS
D**Y
Touche Amore at their best yet
If you are having any hesitation to buy this album let me reassure assure and simply say buy it!Touche Amore are part of a select few bands within the hardcore scene who I genuinely respect. Rather then rehashing the same musical territory, that all other bands have already done for the last 30 years this album shows some real imagination. You won't find endless breakdowns - Riff - Chorus repeat on this album.Instead of that you will find a fantastic musical intensity that keeps the frenetic pacing of hardcore music, without falling into all the usual pitfalls. Variation is the hallmark of the album, beautiful guitar tones and drums that stand out for their aggression.For me the stand out feature of this album is the lyrical content. Jeremy Bolm proving (yet again) you can have emotionally charged and powerful lyrics without talking about your last break up or unrequited love. He treads that tenuous and tragically underused ground of mature lyrical content. Exploring numerous themes and issues at a near frantic pace.For, while these songs are longer then their previous albums most sit between the 2-3 minute mark and the whole album comes in at 29:35 minutes. Personally I enjoy the increased song duration, the fault of I have had previous is that; by the time you get really into a song it is over!While this band are often put into the same category as: La Dispute, Defeater and Pianos Become the Teeth. I can hear lot of much older bands in their music: Indian Summer, Funeral Diner, City and Caterpillar and The Saddest Landscape. The older screamo bands, before that word came to mean Scene kids playing synth and singing about heartbreak.If you are a fan of: Punk, Hardcore, Screamo then I strongly recommend you buy this album. If you are still unsure go listen to: Just Exist and Harbor on YouTube then comeback and click on buy!
M**L
Fantastic release. An album of the year.
Definitely one of my favourite releases of 2013. The album is punchy and very well written. Possibly their best album yet.
A**A
Is Survived By
Consegna impeccabile e puntuale. Il digipack è di bell'aspetto e originale, in 3 fold con testi "all over" (ma contiene comunque un booklet) e il cd contenuto in una sleeve nell'ultima piega.Album musicalmente semplice ma di gusto, diretto e soprattutto "onesto" nei testi, come già tutti i precedenti della band, che non risparmiano qualche riflessione. Consigliato ai fan dell'hardcore più melodico.
A**N
Los vi y compre su disco
Este ultimo Primavera Sound tuve la suerte de ver esta banda y lamentablemente no pude conseguir su disco en el concierto, vale la pena si te gusta el post rock con aire de at the drive in con mas gritos y melodías
E**R
So schön!
Man kann's einfach rauf und runter hören, weil's so schön ist und jedes Lied für sich richtig gut ist. Vor allem Social Caterpillar hat's mir angetan, aber so sind eigentlich alle Lieder gleich toll.
