~ All of Pinback's material, on and off this album, is what Modest Mouse should have become, if they were to go in a new direction from Moon & Antarctica. The transforming melodies and guitar phases, augmented by the melodic bass and the syncopated drums, seemed to be what old M.M. always strove for. Pinback, complete with a better voice and a moodier overtone, captured and tamed their sound perfectly, and showed it wonderfully on Summer In Abaddon.
The deep, pulsing tones of the guitars and bass are the hypnotic walk down an empty street on a hot day, the languid euphoria one exudes when only trying to find shade. Songs such as "Sender," "Bloods On Fire," and "Soaked" make the head nod lazily. Another type of song is spaced about this album, and that's the slightly more punchy upbeat sort, like the opener, "Non-Photo Blue," and the incredibly infectious "Fortress."
Thumping toms, an evil octave guitar line, a mischievous vocal melody, and the chanting of Protect, embrace, engulf! Remember the summer in Abaddon! Protect, enslave, in love! Remember the summer in Abaddon! And then it inhales into a beautiful bridge, and retracts again at the end of the song, where he makes a neat little reference, singing, And I miss you. Not in a Slint way, but I miss you. Easily the best song on the album.
Lyrically, the album is very interestingly modern, with lines like, "She's posting all the time, but the boards are down," and "AFK" (probably) standing for away-from-keyboard, and having a line braying, "No one uses the phone anymore!"
Except for the three more upbeat songs ("Non-Photo Blue," "Fortress," "AFK"), this album is mostly a positively downtempo beauty, good for a drive, or a headphones-walk. This is a perfect summer/California album. ~ Rate Your Music
1. Non-Photo Blue - 9.8
2. Sender - 8.7
3. Syracuse - 8.3
4. Bloods on Fire - 9.3
5. Fortress - 9.6
6. This Red Book - 8.8
7. Soaked - 8.6
8. 3X0 - 8.8
9. The Yellow Ones - 8.4
10. AFK - 9.8
Overall - 9.0 ****^
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