It’s a weird feeling when you like one half of an album much more than the other. The new Pure Reason Revolution album Coming Up to Consciousness is rock solid, but the second half is perhaps better than the first half. The record releases on September 6th through Inside Out Music.
PRR have an interesting history. The mastermind behind the project is Jon Courtney on vocals, guitars, keys, and programming. He has been the mainstay for the band since the beginning back in 2003. After releasing three albums, the band called it quits, only to rise again 10 years later, and this album is the third album since that reformation. However, the band has changed several times over the years, including on this album. The rest of the lineup includes Ravi Kesavaram on drums, Greg Jong on vocals, guitar, keys, and harmonica, and Annicke Shireen on vocals. Guests include Lewin Krumpschmid on piano, Guy Pratt on bass, Bruce Soord on guitar, and John Sykes on bass.
The band plays an energetic, modern, and melodic progressive rock. They have a freshness and youthfulness in their sound that is undeniable. They combine stabbing guitar licks and alternative riffs with pure groove, and a major highlight of their sound is the use of vocal harmonies. Their music can feel like a roller coaster of sorts.
Coming Up To Consciousness is an odd album, though. Their sound hasn’t changed at all, so that’s not what I mean. The album has fourteen tracks, but six of them are interludes; now, I love that kind of structure, but the interludes here are mostly ambient, lovely nothings; I love ambient music, but I don’t think these interludes add anything to the album. I think they get more interesting as the album progresses, but one could cut them out completely and lose practically nothing. That leaves eight tracks, the first three of which are the singles. I’ll be honest and say that the singles are mixed bag for me, some of them leaning towards vanilla. However, the rest of the songs elevate the album considerably.
The first half features, “Dig Till You Die”, which is an okay track with some strong guitar work and cool keys; “Betrayal”, which I liked a little more for its breezy attitude; and “Useless Animal”, which I liked even a little more for its transition from soft to heavy and bold guitars. The first half also contains “The Gallows”, which is my favorite in this half of the album. I like the piano-forward sound, the harmonica interlude, and the melodic groove and ambient flourish of the final couple minutes.
The second half of the album kicks it up a notch. “Worship” is a gorgeous song that flirts with provocative lyrics, and its loud/quiet dynamics are satisfying. “Bend the Earth” is even better; I like its harmonious atmosphere and great rhythm section. “Lifeless Creature” is probably my favorite on the album; I love the chorus, the instrumental space in the second part, and the overall song structure and arc. The closer “As We Disappear” is a beautiful ending, being more reserved, almost to the point of being a ballad at certain points. It’s a beautiful tune, and a good ending.
PRR are still going strong. Coming Up to Consciousness has some interesting lyrics, great rhythm and flow, and good songs. I don’t think it’s as strong as their last two albums, but it’s rock solid, and fans will devour it.
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The PROG Mind 