The Myriad doesn't lack poise
Posted June 27, 2008
By Nathan,
At a glance at the cover of this CD three things are apparent: the cover art is strange, the band name is strange, and the album name is strange. The Myriads sophomore album, With Arrows, With Poise, is about being a little bit odd whether it’s their alternative rock music, or their mysterious lyrics.
The style of music should probably be labeled under organic alternative rock, but it’s hard to pin down what kind of music the Myriad does when it’s as bizarre as it is. Give credit to the band for creating something that sounds as strange as it does but still has a good flow, for that is the case on “you waste time like a grandfather clock” which combines it’s instruments nicely, sound vaguely like Lost Ocean and “believe”. The opening of “Get on the plane” sounds normal with its steady rock beat, as the song sounds similar to modern Falling UP, but the suddenly the song turns completely to a nice piano while employing a chorus of background vocals to make this song one to remember.
“Forget what you came for” has a odd flow, but the alternative light rock is solid, changes in the tune keep the song from getting boring and although the chorus is repetitive, the instrumental bit in the end keeps thing strange. The medium rock on “clean shot” has a good organic flow to it and overall it’s one of the more basic songs on the CD, but it is by no means a weak song. The Myriad got a little carried away with the electric guitar intro on “the accident”, but the chorus just rocks, making it the hardest song on With Arrows, With Poise. “Holiest of thieves” begins with a western alternative rock reverberation, the solemn rock is good and the chorus of voices in the back of the end of the song continues the odd stretch in songs.
“A thousand winters melting” is a quick but sturdy alternative rock tune and “polar bears and shark fins” starts softly and remains a solid rock song with a exceptional ending. What sounds like a beating heart starts “throwing punches” off; the music is soft and the most emotional sounding song on the disc, also some strong piano instrumental bits are thrown in to spice things up. again with a music formula similar to Falling up, “don’t let them see you” is a rock song, that grows more intense as it goes one, even with it’s repetitive end. The music is obviously strange in “braver than the rest” and it may start out a little slow but it picks up to become a more emotional tune and a highlight. The final song, “stuck in a glass elevator”, is a ballad where front man Jeremy Edwardson’s vocals is especially high; and the soft music is a nice tough and a nice ending.
The lyrics are as strange as the music if not stranger. While it’s clear, even with their cryptic songs that the Christian alternative rock band Falling Up stands for Christ, it’s not nearly as apparent with the Myriad. With lyrics like ‘It's all a bit confusing...impossible at best!/But when I walk alone at night I feel their holy presence lift my head.’ it’s likely fans will come to the same confusion on where this band stands. The “Holiest of thieves” might be a reference to Christianity, “You Waste Time Like a Grandfather Clock” at least sends the message of not wasting time, but beyond that it’s anyone’s guess.
The alternative rock is good, because it always is something different and it’s always solid thing people will most likely learn from With Arrows, With Poise album? Probably that when you face weird looking monsters have a bow and arrow handy, plus if you waste time make sure you are not doing like a grandfather clock. Hope for more lyrical clarity from The Myriad in the future
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