In Northern Minnesota Our Sun Went Grey

Chin Up Chin Up

The first album I ever bought based solely on one song on a blog post was Chin Up Chin Up's We Should Have Never Lived Like Skyscrapers, sometime around last fall. After I was a bit let down by their last EP, I was really hoping that the next album would build more upon the first record, which it most definitely has, stories up. After a move from Chicago's Flameshovel label, the band was picked up by Suicide Squeeze, who ultimately ended up releasing their brand new album This Harness Can't Ride Anything.

The reason I think the new album succeeds so well is because they new exactly what they wanted. They knew what worked on Skyscrapers and they also knew what didn't and what to do about it. Leaving the whip smart drumming and guitar picking intact, they made a choice to play up the vocals much more and also bring in an organ, which has added a whole new dynamic to many of the tracks. Aside from the title track, which is the album's clear standout, this track quickyl became my favorite.

[MP3]: Chin Up Chin Up :: Blankets Like Beavers (Recommended!)
[MP3]: Chin Up Chin Up :: This Harness Can't Ride Anything (Also Recommended!)
This song opens in what I'd consider a very Modest Mouse kind of way using Brock's forumla of careful picking--shreding--careful picking--shreding, with drums following closely, imitating each movement. The chorus, with it's organ-blaring full band stomp, quickly gives way to a slow breakdown with Jeremy singing "It's alright, it's alright this way, in Northern Minnesota our sun went grey, it's alright, it's alright this way, we woke up too late" before jumping back into verse on a blaring guitar line.

Buy This Harness Can't Ride Anything from Suicide Squeeze

The band will also be touring up throught he end of October with Cursive and Oxford Collapse supporting. You'd be crazy to miss these guys, so, um, don't!

The Dates:
FRI OCT 6 Pittsburgh PA, Brillobox
SAT OCT 7 Brooklyn, NY Grasslands w/ Oxford Collapse
SUN OCT 8 New Haven CT, Bar Night Club w/ Oxford Collapse
MON OCT 9 New Britain CT, Semesters w/ Oxford Collapse
TUE OCT 10 Buffalo NY, Mohawk Place w/ Oxford Collapse
WED OCT 11 Cleveland OH, the Spot at Case Western w/ Oxford Collapse
THU OCT 12 Urbana IL, Courtyard Cafe w/ Oxford Collapse
FRI OCT 13 Chicago IL, Empty Bottle w/ Oxford Collapse, Make Believe
SUN OCT 15 Denver CO, Ogden Theatre w/ Cursive, the Thermals
MON OCT 16 Colorado Springs CO, the Black Sheep
TUE OCT 17 Salt Lake City UT, In the Venue w/ Cursive, the Thermals
WED OCT 18 Boise ID, The Venue w/ Cursive, the Thermals
THU OCT 19 Walla Walla WA, Whitman College
FRI OCT 20 Seattle WA, Neumos w/ Cursive, the Thermals
SAT OCT 21 Portland OR, Roseland Theatre w/ Cursive, the Thermals
MON OCT 23 San Francisco CA, The Fillmore w/ Cursive, the Thermals
TUE OCT 24 Los Angeles CA, Safari Sams
THU OCT 26 Denton TX, Rubbergloves w/ Oxford Collapse
FRI OCT 27 Austin TX, Emos Lounge w/ Oxford Collapse
SAT OCT 28 Baton Rouge LA, Spanish Moon w/ Oxford Collapse
SUN OCT 29 Atlanta GA, the Earl w/ the Album Leaf, Oxford Collapse
MON OCT 30 Mt. Pleasant SC, the Village Tavern w/ Oxford Collapse
TUE OCT 31 Wilmington NC, the Soapbox Laundrolounge w/ Oxford Collapse
WED NOV 1 Washington DC, Black Cat w/ Oxford Collapse
SUN NOV 5 Philadelphia PA, Johnny Brenda's w/ Irving

Chin Up Chin Up on MySpace

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