Day 70

20: Tigers Jaw - Two Worlds

Tigers Jaw, like most bands who endure past one album eventually will come upon Bobby Frosts 'Two Roads' dilemma. Some groups continue down the comfortable road, staying within the same patterns and writing habits; others, in pursuit of greener pastures, risk failure and denunciation down the road less traveled. With Two Worlds Tigers Jaw chose the latter trail, and the outcome is a beautiful, sonically crafted, more originally carved sound. Pushing the male/female vocal interplay and bring the keyboards to the forefront, Tigers Jaw sound more polished and mature than their past full lengths and subsequent split releases. Their approach to song writing stays firmly planted in the late 90's pop-emo terrain; but unlike Spirit Desire, Two Worlds trades a small number of catchy hooks for mammoth choruses, nuanced vocals and lyrical complexity. Most importantly though, Tigers Jaw have finally mastered their structure, where other releases have seemed like samples or pieces jig-sawed together, Two Worlds shows Tigers Jaw finally putting all of the pieces together and crafting their most compelling work, not only in sly but in substance as well. Everywhere that Tigers Jaw dares to defy their pre-established framework, they shine and stand with the greats of their genre. Two Worlds features enough career making pop hooks to make any of their contemporaries green with envy, while still being able to maintain a powerful dynamic. Tigers Jaw have finally released not only their most memorable record, but one of the best in the genre.

-YtWt