For his solo debut,
Circa Survive's freak-out frontman
Anthony Green largely eschews his trademark experimental emo in favor of a surprisingly assured acoustic pop that retains the adventurous spirit he brings to his main gig. Backed by the Philadelphia trio
Good Old War, who drape his restless melodies and rafter-reaching voice in harmonies and strummed strings,
Green reveals a songwriter's mettle far deeper than the average emo heartthrob's. With lines like "addiction's made me smarter but you can't be high all the time" from "Stonehearted Man" and "Califone I love you, but you're singing Sinatra again" from "Califone" (a song presumably about the post-rock duo),
Green proves himself a master of incisive bon mots cloaked in A.M.-friendly vibes reminiscent of
America or
CSNY. His more expansionist tendencies are on display in the layered vocal ending of "Devil's Song (This Feels Like a Nightmare)" and the wispy electronica of the instrumental "Springtime Out the Van Window." ~ Pat Sullivan