Staff Reviews

Cursive - I am Gemini

Review by Ruth Singleton

In a lyrical and musical exploration of the themes of duality, Cursive have come out with a conflicted gem.»

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the new album from cursive on saddle creek. 'i am gemini' is the surreal and powerful musical tale of cassius and pollock, twin brothers separated at birth. one good and one evil, their unexpected reunion in a house that is not a home ignites a classic struggle for the soul, played out with a cast of supporting characters that includes a chorus of angels and devils, and twin sisters conjoined at the head. recorded in the summer / fall of 2011 at omaha, ne's arc studios and mixed at red room in seattle, wa with producer matt bayles (mastodon, minus the bear, isis), 'i am gemini' marks the first time front man tim kasher, holding the completed story already in mind, wrote album lyrics in a linear fashion, in order, from song 1 to song 13. the result is thirteen singularly cohesive song chapters that blend effortlessly into one unique narrative. the moody and playfully sinister 'i am gemini' is cursive's musically heaviest in years, with alternately muscular and angular guitars, pounding drums and driving bass. from the eerie introductory sounds of epic barnstormer 'this house alive' and the irresistibly catchy, insistent 'the sun and moon', to the searing 'double dead' and the split personality prog-pop of 'twin dragon / hello skeleton', to the roaring, mournful closing track 'eulogy for no name', the album is a dynamic, mind-bending, and imaginative ride.
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