Starflyer 59 - The Changing Of The Guard

Artist: Starflyer 59
Album: The Changing Of The Guard
Release Date: 8/10/10
Label: Tooth & Nail Records

Jason Martin is certainly no stranger to the music scene, fronting Tooth & Nail mainstay Starflyer 59 for nearly 17 years. The signature melancholy indie rock from SF59 is back yet again with The Changing Of The Guard, which is almost sure to be one of the most underrated albums of the year. Not changing it up much musically, the album takes on some darker tones, but still comes across as a solid release.

The mystifying opener "Fun Is Fun" is a good introduction for what follows on The Changing Of The Guard. The chorus of the next track, "Shane," takes on a eerie sound and will stick in your head. One of the highlights of the album comes with the song "Trucker's Son." It contains everything that Starflyer 59 does well, complete with a dreary guitar part and the quirky melodies that the band has become known for. "The Morning Rise / Frightening Eyes" is one of the only tracks that blatantly mentions anything spiritual, but there are other metaphorical phrases relating to spirituality on the album.

As the album comes to the close, "Kick The Can" and "Lose My Mind" end The Changing Of The Guard solidly. "Kick The Can" stands out among the other tracks, which is acoustic fronted, taking on a bit of a  different sound. The closer, "Lose My Mind" does exactly what it's meant to do, close the album off on a high note. Containing such elements as a dark keyboard section and a somewhat downbeat tempo, it's wraps up the album perfectly.

Rating: 8/10 Jason Martin and Starflyer 59 have pulled it off again successfully with The Changing Of The Guard, a good addition to the large discography that SF59 has garnered over the years. While not necessarily earning a spot as a contender for album of the year, this solid release is sure to be one of the year's most underrated releases.

Tracklisting: 

1. Fun Is Fun
2. Shane
3. Time Machine
4. Trucker's Sun
5. The Morning Rise / Frightening Eyes
6. I Had A Song For The Ages
7. Coconut Trees
8. C Mar
9. Kick The Can
10. Lose My Mind

(Buy Here)