Reviews

Some heavy proselytizing non-withstanding, this is a great record for music lovers of any religion. Philadelphia’s mewithoutYou offer up a message of Christian faith wrapped inside a jangley swerving indie rock journey. A very heavy Fugazi vibe rides this record, with thick grooves dancing behind heartfelt awkward free verse lyrics. Sound bizarre or awful?  It’s not. The music provides the perfect sonic context for lyrics that you will run around in your head once or twice and then find them running you over for the next few weeks. The first time I listened to Torches Together, I mocked the simplistic chorus “We’ll be like torches – We’ll be torches together!”  Today I repeated that line endlessly to myself, to friends, anyone who would listen basically. Others aren’t so singable, as this, the beginning of My Exit, Unclear: “My exit, unobserved, my homesickness, absurd, I said ‘Water,’ expecting the word would satisfy my thirst”.  What?  I’m not sure. Awesome?  Yes.  Catch For Us The Foxes is heavy on textures, both vocally and instrumentally, favoring an almost non-linear path to follow, while singing about God’s path.  Ironic. A recurring theme lyrically at least is being saved from suicide by belief in a higher power, offering yourself up to a higher power for the greater good.  The life affirming hopefulness that pervades mewithoutYou’s sound is so soulfully expressed by vocalist Aaron Weiss as he veers from spoken word to shouting, pleading, almost to tears… it’s intense. While this is not a ‘heavy’ album musically, Catch For Us The Foxes grabs you with the same force as the best hardcore band out there. You can take or leave the Christian perspective as suits you, but this is a heartfelt record with soul and some great tunes.