My Top 40 Albums - #8

#8
The Juliana Theory - "Love"

Year: 2002
Label: Epic
Favorite songs: Do You Believe Me?, White Days, Jewel to Sparkle, Repeating Repeating, In Conversation, DTM
Lyric sample: "Conversation is amazing when we're free to be things people often won't because they hate themselves / These situations almost daily have a way of making people understand that all of us are one / But isolation and division will be our destruction if we can't communicate / So as I contradict myself, and forget all I've said, I am free"

The dark horse of Juliana Theory albums, this one probably upset a lot of fans by varying drastically from the emo-pop formula that they had established. I suppose I've never been much of a purist, as I tend to love the records that veer from a group's established norm. With something of a concept album in Love, the emo band goes hard rock, and what a joy it is! Especially since they do it better than most hard rock groups. In my mind there aren't nearly enough rock records like this - lots of guitars big in the mix and singable vocal melodies combine into a tasty concoction. The dingy, thick-sounding electric guitars have a real presence here. They buzz and float and even crash, thanks to some dropped-C tuning on songs like "Congratulations" that make this by far the most aggressive album in The Juliana Theory's canon (which, by the way, is now forever closed thanks to their disbanding after the release of "Deadbeat Sweetheartbeat"). The consistency of the instruments and the value of melody over pure energetic recklessness reminds me quite a bit of some gothic rock groups like HIM. Their signature piano is still present ("Shell of a Man," "The Hardest Things"), and with the big-label mixing power they've established almost a tangible airy-ness, a space in which the music exists. As a guitar player I can more easily focus on the six-strings, but I would be remiss if I did not remark on the work that the rhythm section does. Drums and bass play a huge part in the mood and style of the album, and both have a chance to shine on Love.

Bret Detar's vocal performances have been steadily improving since the unsteady start on the first record. On Love they sound fantastic. He still has the smoothness he possessed on Emotion is Dead but he takes the range and power exhibited there to new levels. They've also found new creative ways to juxtapose his screams against seeming unfitting music - listen to "In Conversation" and you'll understand. The really impressive bit about that song, though, is the way he segues from a note into a scream and back in the same breath. Quite a set of lungs on this man! This shows him building up his endurance to the point where he was able to muster that 30-second gut-buster on the next record's "French Kiss Off."

"In Conversation," aside from being a welcome change of pace, is an example of the record's songwriting strengths. The band shows what is probably the greatest complexity and maturity of their discography. Take, for instance, the brilliant "White Days" with its mesmerizing undercurrent, rhythmic lyrical structure and crisp arpgeggiated intro. You can just feel yourself staring, absorbed, at the oncoming road as you drive through the night. The tasteful "Jewel to Sparkle" cleverly presents a subversive melody. "Trance" and "DTM" pick things up in the second half with some continuous rocking out. Neither is as memorable as something like "If I Told You This Was Killing Me..." but in many ways they are better songs. If you want memorable, look no further than the deliriously hooky "Do You Believe Me?" with its fun "woa-oh-oh" background vocals that hearken back to the 80's (Michael W. Smith's "All You're Missin' Is A Heartache" comes to mind). This song has it all. Punchy guitars, a nice buildup, and a satisfying introduction of additional vocal harmonies in the final chorus.

Probably hoping that with their new label they would be reaching new audiences and making first-time fans, TJT decided to re-record one of the best tracks from Emotion Is Dead and place it on the album. The updated version of "Into the Dark" is still a good song, and the new presentation was necessary to make it feel like it fits on Love. Yet, to me, it doesn't really add anything to the album and I think the first recording is a superior vision. Other tracks that aren't as successful are "The Hardest Things" and the final track, "Everything." "Everything" simply doesn't work on the same level as "You Always Say Goodnight" or even "Constellation." It's not really poor; it just closes the record with a sputter rather than a bang. It's a fitting wrap-up lyrically, but it's not as creative as most of the other tracks. "Trance" is actually a great jam song, but it has potential to be a lot more interesting in the final minute or so and doesn't reach for that.

The Juliana Theory is one of my favorite groups, and in my opinion this is their strongest release.  I keep Love close to my heart (*groan*) and close to the top of my list.

I apologize for the video - they didn't have any professional videos from this album as far as I can tell and the concert footage is of characteristically poor quality.  So this is just the song, but it's a great song and you should listen to it anyway. Do You Believe Me?