There ain't nothing quite like finding an album that immediately and unmistakably drops my jaw for how unconventionally creative it is. '68 is the newest name to join a very small roster of master chaotics that I love, alongside names like Every Time I Die and Empire State Bastard. They may reside in a different area of the rock and metal umbrella, but the limit-pushing tendencies and deceivingly nuanced cohesion are all the same.
Yes, and... is their fourth album, and the first one I've listened to. Removed Their Hats grew on me and before I knew it, I wanted to hear the whole thing. It was that kind of uncompromising boldness that surprised me, to continually go in directions I didn't expect yet sounded great, that sold the intrigue to me.
I love how With Distance Between starts the album off as a near-perfect scene-setter, with this two minute monologue-esque intro that slowly and ominously builds up the atmosphere of the album. And with a fitting line ("take it to the limit boys"), they start their noise rock shenanigans. The ending refrain also has me in a chokehold, what an amazing melody. With the next few songs, they continue to explore their unorthodox musical ideas in very cohesive and fleshed out ways.
I'm a big fan of the way their songs develop, and how they make it feel like the same song by using consistent themes and smart sequencings to achieve this conceptual and melodic continuity that's hard to get in chaotic music. Odd and constantly changing time signatures are always fun, but I love how they also introduce a lot of variation when repeating sections, they basically never repeat the same thing twice.
A lot of the soul and character is split equally between the vocals and instrumentation. The drums take up such a foreground position with this album, which is rare to find in most bands, at times spearheading the sound of the song. The vocals and guitars seem to go head to head for telling the story, both unbelievably expressive and free-spirited in their own ways. So many great riffs, so many great vocal lines, and not a single one of them feels out of place. I'm also pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of a few electronic and production elements here and there, and how nicely they complement the intended soundscape. They seem like they could go for a near-live sound if they wanted, but the little tidbits here and there make the studio version slightly more vibrant.
Every song on this album feels like they're in the right place. "End This War" has this melancholy grudge, They All Agreed has this poignant demeanour, Then Got Bored has this sardonic sound and barely resolving musicality throughout the song, they all contribute such a strong identity to the album that makes the overall experience so much more than the individual parts itself.
Yes, and... is the type of album you should listen in full. I'll admit it, some of the songs don't stand too well on their own, but they suddenly become gold when experienced as part of the album. I guess '68 really was weaving the songs together in more ways than one when they made the song titles spell out a story. I love how captivating this album was, and I'm excited to dig into their older stuff.
Rating: 9/10