Review Summary: It's the irony and self defeat of giving up a crutch.
When you were still alive, and I was in your thoughts. We would often listen to music together. Songs of love and angst played through the car speakers as we drove far away from our mundane lives. We talked of religion, childhood, and our parents. We blamed no one but ourselves for the shape of our lives, but it led us to one another. I wish you were still here, but... The Future Is Canceled.
If you had told me when Captain, We're Sinking dropped The Future is Canceled, that it would end up being one of my favorite albums, not only of that year but of all time. I wouldn't have believed you. After a disappointing dive into their debut album, and not really caring for it. I had basically written this band off. However, I eventually made my way back to The Future Is Canceled, and after a bit of hesitation and morbid curiosity. I was sucked in.
The album in stark contrast to the previous one is undeniably better. The production allows this band to shine. Instead of sounding like it was recorded in someone's garage, badly, I might add. The band starts it off with some guitar feedback and then kicks it into high gear with a really frantic song that sets the tone of the album perfectly. The band isn't ***ing around anymore. They want your attention, they demand it, and they will get it.
The Future is Canceled is home to songs of mental health, alcoholism, lost love, alienation, and divorce. Yet, despite all that... Would you believe me if I said the album actually manages to be fun? Cause, it is. It's really ***in' fun. It's just insanely catchy. Despite being overwhelmingly depressing at times. Yet, the band sounds like they're having fun. Even if the singers are on the verge of a simultaneous mental breakdown.
"Well, I'm drinking from my father's flask. And, there's something burning on my lips...This *** tastes just like medicine, but I'll take it for what it is..."
Nothing showcases the band's change better than the song "Lake" though. Holy ***ING ***... This song has teeth and they are going for your throat. It's MUCH louder than anything else on the album. Undeniably one of the most depressing songs on the album, by quite a fair margin too.
"She puts on her mom's old jewelry, and catches a glimpse of herself and laughs hysterically...She's got her mother's eyes and her father's grin. She shares her sister's love for prescription medicine...She likes to sin."
Then the chorus comes in and prepares for some ear-piercing screams. The song has the most manic songwriting on the album going from soft-spoken, slow, and delicately strummed guitar. To screaming for help and company. This song was when I realized just how talented this band was. I mean the lyricism and songwriting were on an entirely different level from when I last heard them.
The album doesn't dwell in the chaos instead it serves as a cautionary tale for those who will face the same demons in their lives to not lose themselves in the wreck... "As I watch my friends disappear I said, "I drove them away, I set myself as king again. Of the greatest junkyard that this world has ever seen, and I can't remember what I was looking for..."
Because, as cliche, as it sounds... There's a light at the end of the tunnel. You just have to keep your head up. Keep looking forward to the future. Despite what they say... it's not canceled.
