The Anniversary: Your Majesty : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

The Anniversary are on a label known for its emo bands, but this Lawrence, Kansas, quintet is more Lord of the Rings than the Promise Ring. On Your Majesty, the Anniversary revel in wine--drinking lyrics and expansive arrangements, pinching from sources as varied as Neil Young and the Mamas and the Papas to Duran Duran. Songs such as "Sweet Marie" get lots of window dressing - boy-girl vocal harmonies, psychedelic guitar noodling, rootsy riffs and off-kilter tempos -- but remain at heart just raucous, catchy tunes. Producer Rob Schnapf and engineer Doug Boehm have both worked with Elliott Smith, and you can tell: A twinge of sadness turns even sunny tunes such as "Never Die Young" slightly sour. The band occasionally piles on a few too many layers of sounds, and songs like "Husam Husam" run way too long. And often Josh Berwanger and Justin Roelofs' lyrics sound like some drunken hippie-shaman shit ("Turn as the Earth and be free! Weep in the well and be free!" or "We drink the land that tastes like wine"). In the end, on tracks such as "Crooked Crown" and "Peace, Pain and Regret," there is enough substance to justify the band's sometimes goofy style.

JENNY ELISCU
(RS 892 - March 28, 2002)

(Posted: Feb 28, 2002)

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4of 5 Stars

Your Majesty turns out to be one of the greatest treasures the music industry has spewed in a long while. Every track on this album is unique and holds its own magic. It will take more than one listen, which should not be hard, to uncover every small detail that has been placed onto each piece.
Upon open, it is clear that The Anniversary is no ordinary band, using a range of ways to achieve every sound. While some songs may seem to drag at first, they are just as easily appreciated once a new sound is rushed in. A great album more people should know about.

Aug 31, 2007 10:43:24

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