FOREVER HOWLONG

Now, if you've ever known me, you would know that my relationship with Black Country, New Road is?rocky at best. I cannot deny they do have some talent, but they never wowed me unlike other bands in the Windmill Scene, and, in fact, I would go so far as to say I don't get why people seemed to love them in the past, especially in regards to Ants From Up There. I don't like Ants From Up There, I'm sorry, but it just feels like such a basic post rock album to me that I'd rather listen to This Will Destroy You or Explosions In The Sky.

However, it seems like we got the glow up of the century with their recent studio workout of Forever Howlong, and honestly?yeah this is a massive improvement compared to their last two records for me.

The line-up changed quite a bit, specifically with the new lead singers of Georgia Ellery, Tyler Hyde, and May Kershaw. They have been in the band before as backing vocalists, but now they're in the forefront, and honestly they really brighten this album up. They're all really amazing vocalists to me, and they capture the energy and spirit of this new direction for BCNR so well. I don't quite know who's who, so I cannot really say who my favorite is, but they all do a really great job so even if I did know who's voice is who's, I'd still have a hard time deciding.

But obviously the real meat and potatoes is the musical change, as they basically moved far, far away from post rock, and head dive straight into chamber and baroque pop.

If there is something I could commend the band for in the past, it would be that they could make really stellar pop music when they did get poppy. So, honestly, when I first heard Besties and realized they would go into a pop direction, I was honestly excited, though cautious because of my dislike of Ants From Up There. Luckily, they focus primarily on pop, and in doing so create a very rich and jovial sound that I really adore. This might be probably the strongest pop record I heard this year. The mix of pop and folk music create an energy that's uniquely theirs, with a great baroque sensibility that's not too far off from classic bands of the 60s like The Moody Blues and Sagittarius.

It all culminates in a sound that is certainly new, but doesn't take away the feelings that BCNR has carried since For The First Time. In fact, I'd say this direction is probably a healthy one, as they sound much happier and freeform compared to the past, but they still keep what made them special for so many people alive in some shape or form. Everything in the music, especially on tracks like Besties, Two Horses, Happy Birthday, For the Cold Country, and Goodbye (Don't Tell Me), has this energy that cannot compare to their older works, yet has the spirit of them, and such makes me so happy that they decided to go in this direction.

I do have one complaint though, and that's, while I may have not liked their post rock sound in the past, I do think it would be kind of neat if they had at least one post rock moment on here, like make one of the tracks a bit longer and have a moment that's kinda reminiscent of some songs off of For The First Time or Ants From Up There. In this new pop direction, I bet they could really make it work well. It might make this album the quintessential BCNR record-I mean it is for me but it would be more so for the diehard fans. Just feel like it's one missed opportunity in a sea of great opportunities.

I was super, super surprised with how much I loved this album. I thought BCNR would just be one of those bands I would never get into, but they clearly proved me wrong in the best ways possible. While Forever Howlong isn't perfect by any means, I think it has so many great moments and songs that it's hard for me to at least not find it pretty good at worst, and at best, an amazing baroque and chamber pop journey through the English countryside. Most certainly a must listen in my humble opinion, and I really do hope they keep up this direction in the future. They finally did it, they made an album I like!

Best tracks: Besties, Two Horses, Happy Birthday, For the Cold Country, Goodbye (Don't Tell Me)

Worst track: N/A