I was hoping Late Night Conversations would provide background music to fond memories of midnight girlfriend calls. Music that would capture drowsy affection and the truth serum effect that sleep deprivation produces. I think it is safe to say that we all, in some way, could file some of our listening preferences into the category of Late Night Music. In my own, you would likely find a copy of The Shins' Chutes Too Narrow or Death Cab's Transatlanticism. This classification does not necessarily mean that the music is soft and lazy. It is often the association with a particular time period of our life, or the reanimation of a familiar feeling, that allows music like this to be best understood in the vulnerable setting that nighttime provides. Sadly, the success of The Forecast's latest creation off Victory Records relies more heavily on lyrics than musical quality. This imbalance creates a sleepy effect...but for all the wrong reasons.
Late Night Conversations can be best described as a crossbreed of watered down classic rock and emo, laced with a country twang. As interesting as this unlikely combination might sound, The Forecast leaves you dry with a novice instrumental performance. In comparison to tourmates, Motion City Soundtrack, they pale instantly in the energy department. Looking beyond the most ostensible reasoning (attaching itself to the much higher tempo that MCS flaunts), there are several different reasons why. The dual vocals of bassist Shannon Burns and guitarist Dustin Addis struggle to harmonize among repetitious rhythms and bland builds, while MCS seems to navigate precise dynamics and catchy patterns with ease.
The sweet sounding female voice of Burns isn't quite convincing enough when she sings lines like "long night for a fist fight..." It is the passion in the voices of singers, like Motion City's, that carries a bands vision. Without this passion, the desired effect will be smothered.
Putting aside who sings what and how well they execute, an examination of actual lyrical content reveals honest poetry, aimed at the heartstrings with themes of hardship, pain, and responsibility. My hopes of an exploration of love late at night were partially satisfied on the title track. Lines like "so I'll call you for the hundredth time just asking for a reply" and "I've waited so long to hear goodnight until sunrise" effectively allow the listener to relate. It is clear they posses the ability to put into words lessons that people take years to understand. It is unfortunate that the gravity of what they are saying undermined by the poor accompaniment.
On their new album The Forecast foursome from Illinois struggle to shake mediocrity. Nevertheless, if you pride yourself on having a really good attention span, or if you live somewhere in the Midwest you may be able to enjoy this album.
2/4
