Tired Of Tomorrow

Shoegaze from Philadelphia's Nothing, a band I've been enjoying a lot ever since they released Guilty of Everything in 2014 (check out the song "Somersault" off that.) Their sophomore release finds them exploring much of the same territory as Guilty of Everything, yet some tracks are less reverby and dreamy and adventure across more minimalist piano or heavier rock territories. The music internet describes this as "shoegazey Christian rock" and that's pretty accurate. One of my favorites of the year. RIYL Whirr, Astrobrite

1. (2:56) ** Fever Queen—Rushing, insistent intro alternating among a few chords. Slow, drawn-out drumming. New brighter chords towards the end. A lot like Guilty of Everything.
2. (4:30) * The Dead are Dumb—Soaring guitars and melancholic vocals that are less drowned out in the mix. Heartrending guitar solo at 2:55. Reminds me a lot of Slowdive's Pygmalion. "All our words are wasted."
3. (3:25) ** Vertigo Flowers—More aggressive shoegaze in the vein of Swervedriver or Catherine Wheel. Sounds like what the title suggests. Colorful guitar fills throughout. Most dynamic and uplifting track on the album.
4. (3:39) ACD (Abcessive Compulsive Disorder)—Headbanger. Gorgeous, surprisingly potent guitars that rise above the reverb.
5. (4:40) Nineteen Ninety Heaven—Contemplative, glimmering guitars and heavy, plodding drumming that becomes more brooding as the song progresses. Delicate strings in the background. Tender and careful, yet can feel a bit maudlin at times.
6. (4:48) Curse of the Sun—Heavily distorted guitars persist, this time in stoner form. Churning, restless. Refreshingly dreamy passage at 2:27.
7. (5:01) Eaten by Worms—Generic, more aggressive shoegaze track.
8. (4:55) * Everyone is Happy—Softer and acoustic. Gliding keys come in around 1:30. The gaze version of the confessional emo music you listened to in middle school.
9. (5:30) *** Our Plague—Bright, dominant, less fuzzed-out guitar line. Enveloping, wide-eyed, womblike. Sounds a lot like "Hymn to the Pillory" off their last album. Gets heavier and more visceral with the guitars at 3:20.
10. (6:23) Tired of Tomorrow—Weighty piano. Whispered vocals that are a little intimidating given the guy's range. Strings come in halfway. Ends with a spoken "This is what God is."