Detroit's The Summer Pledge return with their second full length, the follow-up to 2009's well received "You Are You". Now pared down to a quartet, the band have focused their sound much more this time around on "Vessels". Their debut was more of a cycle of songs, most running into each other, largely instrumental and when there were vocals they were oftentimes buried deeper into the mix. There is a new approach on "Vessels" and it makes for a convincing and worthy sophomore album.
The 11 songs that make up the new album are a bit more structured this time around. Dustin McLaughlin sings vocals on every track, sans the short but sweet instrumental "Madrigal", and they play a big part on this go around. "You Are You" tended to veer into post-rock territory quite often, there is no denying good portions of it sounded like a local version of Explosions In The Sky . However, the songs on "Vessels" follow a more traditional vocal rock blueprint, just don't mistake them as generic. There are still plenty of spaced out guitar excursions throughout the album, the band has not lost their knack for experimental rock music that draws from other influences.
Highlights include "The Ledges (Outsider)" which is one of the more laid back tracks here until its blistering ending, "B's Teeth" which is both jazzy and funky at the same time, and the nine minute album closer "Through The Vessels" which crystallizes everything The Summer Pledge does best into one epic track. Album opener "Bloodclot" is my favorite here, amazingly a Summer Pledge song that can be accused of being catchy with its melodic chorus calls of "ah's and "oh's" that stick in your skull. Simply a great track.
The Summer Pledge are hitting the road, cementing their spot as one of the hardest working bands in metro Detroit, on a tour that will take them everywhere from Minneapolis to Denver and on into Texas. Make a point to catch them if they come to your area. McLaughlin, Andrew Davis, Jeremy Damaske and Rob Wilson put on a helluva live show, and they've delivered a helluva second album.
"Vessels" was self-released May 10, 2012.
Official Website of The Summer Pledge
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