Finally, the sophomore Collapsing Cities album is sitting on my desk and in my CD player. There were, I confess, times that I truly believed, and I mean with with absolutely no disrespect to the band or anyone involved, that I’d never get to see or hear anything from this record apart from Steve’s assurance, whenever I would see him out, that it’s “really good; he’s proud of it” and “it’ll be out soon”.
Now, I’ve had the album for about a week now and I’ve let myself settle down into it – so much anticipation can be such a double edged sword and I needed to fairly dull that blade before launching into reviewing Strangers Again.
I love that the new album begins exactly where Collapsing Cities left you – with the single that, if my memory serves me well, actually came out in 2009. There’s a refrain in lead album single Regret “Losing old friends / Making new plans” that seems to me, sum up this record – this is unmistakably Collapsing Cities; you definitely recognize them; and fundamentally they are the same (four) guy(s) but; as one might hope and expect they’ve grown up a lot. But, thankfully not grown up to be boring, settled down with a sensible, soul destroying job and a mortgage; no, the essence of Collapsing Cities is still here – funny, smart, and sharp witted – but time has given them time to add much more feathers to their proverbial bow. They’ve fermented and aged very well indeed.
Damned you Matheison (et al) you exceeded all my expectations!
Track Picks
Favours for Favours
I think this is my absolute favorite song on the album; sounds like a long lost Smiths song; in a really fucking good way.
Death on the Victoria Line
A fine example of a more sophisticated Collapsing Cities.
Regret
Still a killer track; that pulsing intro; the throbbing bass; the build; the seemingly never-ending crescendo; then it’s gone. Wonderful.
Evacuation Plan
“Don’t be late for the job you hate” sage/cynical advice to dance to.
Queue for the Queue
Latest single. Wry and cynical and energetic. Fantastic.
review by Andrew Tidball
