it’s been three years since happy hollow came out, and as much as i liked that album, there was something BIG missing from it, and in turn, i stopped listening to it altogether. in retrospect, it’s hard to actually sift through and pinpoint what it was, but it doesn’t matter, because now we have mama, i’m swollen.

despite still not having gretta in the group, cursive grew into their horn arrangements, and kasher’s songwriting is as incredible as it has ever been. for the past few days, i’ve been listening to this album before bed and have let kasher and company tuck me into my bed amidst a sea of happy, loving, bitter and hateful thoughts.

“every record i’ve written has left me smitten.”
-tim kasher

read the review after the jump.

Artist: Cursive
Album: Mama, I’m Swollen
Record Label: Saddle Creek Records
Release Date: March 10, 2009

With a band like Cursive, whose extensive back catalog spans the past 14 years, it’s fair to say that they know what’s expected of them when it comes to their sixth studio LP. Their 2006 release, Happy Hollow, didn’t exactly receive the same critical acclaim as its predecessor, 2003’s The Ugly Organ. And all things considered, chief songwriter Tim Kasher didn’t exactly reinvent the band’s sound on Mama, I’m Swollen, rather just tightened up any loose ends from previous efforts.

Mama I’m Swollen is positively a straight-no-chaser record. The album’s opener, “In the Now,” is in essence one of the most punk-rock influenced songs Cursive has written to date, as it trudges through a formulaic song-structure and distorted bass and guitar riffs, respectively. The song’s repetition of “I don’t wanna live in the now/I don’t wanna know what I know” is a signature Tim Kasher line, penned with the vague tenacity that has only heightened throughout the band’s career.

Mama I’m Swollen revels in its ability to be inconsistent, a common trait among nearly every Cursive effort. Songs like “From the Hips” and the downtrodden “Let Me Up” are classic examples of Kasher’s storytelling abilities, one of his best and most celebrated assets as a songwriter. Kasher remains as vulnerable as he’s ever been and the tracks “Mama, I’m Swollen” and “We’re Going to Hell” are some of the most introspective on the album.

Since the departure of cellist Gretta Cohn in 2004, the band has dealt with the loss by replacing her with a horn section, which was a singular effort on Happy Hollow by Nate Walcott. And in 2007, Cursive lost their original drummer Clint Schnase, who was replaced by Cornbread Compton, former drummer for Engine Down, who does an exceptional job of picking up where Schnase left off.

Compared to the rest of their discography, Mama, I’m Swollen may be the most accessible Cursive release to date, but that’s still not saying much. The most perfect thing about Cursive is their ability to be imperfect. The inconsistencies and diversity that permeates their discography has kept the band afloat among longtime listeners and have roped in new fans alike. The band has only improved upon every missed step from Happy Hollow, and their songwriting ability has reassured itself once again through the celebrated insecurities of Tim Kasher.

Grade: B

preview two songs off of mama, i’m swollen:

from the hips
i couldn’t love you

cursive on myspace.

-grizzly