Rating: 4/5 Stars
Hailing from my hometown of Lexington, KY, Too Close to Touch burst onto the rock/metal scene in 2015 with their unique debut "Nerve Endings". The album was one of the best debut albums of that year, showing how unique the band's indie hard rock/metal sound was. It boasted songs with catchy lyrics as well as some great emotional cuts in the title track and "Hell to Pay". What really got me into this band though is the incredible vocalist Keaton Pierce. The guy has an impressive set of vocal chords, able to go from some very low notes to some incredible highs with great skill. Now the band has returned a year later with their sophomore release "Haven't Been Myself". They decide to play it safe here (for the most part) by expanding on their established sound and refining it. The result is a very solid rock album with a lot of great moments and more showing of Keaton Pierce's versatile vocal skills.
The album beings on a very strong note with the first three tracks. The first track "Sympathy" is easily one of the more intense tracks the band has done. It starts off with some cool subtle electronic elements which leads into an explosive guitar riff. Pierce's vocals come in as great as ever, sounding particularly strong in this track. I could feel the passion in this track, especially in the chorus which expressed disdain for the person Pierce is talking about: "Don't you dare say I'm gonna make it/Cause I don't believe a word you say/There's a sickness living inside me/You can spare me all your sympathy". This song could just as easily be about a deceptive friend as it could be a break-up song. Either way, the song works very effectively, especially with Pierce's angry shouted vocals in the chorus. The second track "Crooked Smile" is a bit of a generic song tackling an unfaithful person once again, but the song is so fun and intense that it's hard to complain. The biggest highlight of the three comes in the lead single "What I Wish I Could Forget". This song boasts all the huge dynamics that "Nerve Endings" had, except it makes them bigger in some ways. The song is also just as emotional, especially in the chorus when Pierce begs, "Take every memory ingrained in me/Erase it from my thoughts so I can sleep/I'd give anything to feel no pain/Name your price and take the past away". I felt the sadness and longing in Pierce's voice, and his vocals just soar throughout this whole song. It's beautiful and brutal at the same time, particularly in the scream-heavy bridge. The song is so dynamic and is easily one of the biggest highlights of the whole album.
While having a bit of a cheesy name, "Miss Your Face" is actually a very powerful ballad and another big highlight. The theme of the song is about valuing those in your life. The lyrics speak to how we often seem to not appreciate those we leave behind, and when we do miss them it's almost too late. This makes for a bittersweet but beautiful track. "The Art of Eye Contact" offers up another great ballad with more of an emphasis on the electronic elements. The lyrics of the chorus paint a compelling portrait of a broken relationship that is trying to be repaired, but the efforts seem to be futile. The title of the song seems to imply that if the couple was able to truly see each other, then maybe this relationship could have a chance, but they simply can't. The thematic arc of this song is a powerful one, and Pierce's vocals skillfully carry this song along with the interesting variations of instrumentation in the background. "Inside Voices" creates a lot of imagery that seems to imply a person reflecting upon having anxiety: "Inside a broken mind is the place that I call home/I let my thoughts unwind, as they leave my body panic prone/I beg for peace within me, as I lose a piece of me". The tone of the song seems to imply this person has accepted their anxiety for what it is and have chosen to just live with it. This song is sure to connect with people who go through the same problems, and for that as well as how prominent the musicality of this song is, this song is another highlight. Interesting soundscapes also appear in the absolutely dynamic number "For Your Sake", which has Pierce's vocals shining through once again. The best track of the album doesn't appear until the end of the album, and it comes in the song "Eiley". I could really tell the band put all of their passion in this epic of the song, as it keeps on building until it reaches a fever pitch and Pierce belts some incredible screams. The song has a lot of emotional heft to it, as Pierce is addressing the death of a loved one. I nearly teared up when he passionately said "God, why didn't you choose me over her?" It might be the best track the band has ever done.
There are a few down sides of the album. "Translate" is probably the weakest track on the album. The lyrics good enough, but they aren't as impressive compared to some of the other lyrics. Musically the song does not have much to offer, having a feeling of sameness throughout. Even Pierce's vocals are not as good on this track, as I could tell he was trying to be a bit more radio friendly. "Modern Love Affair" is a cliched love song about being with a woman who just constantly cheats on whoever she is with. The song doesn't really offer anything compelling in it. "What a Shame" is simply a bit of a throwaway track; not necessarily bad, but it isn't great either.
Overall, Too Close To Touch has released an album that is FAR from a sophomore slump. In some ways, this album is an improvement over their debut, as objectively, it has a lot more tight musicianship and more showing of just how incredible Pierce's vocal range is. However, I still do think their debut is a little better, more because I find the debut really special with a lot of memorable songs. There are certainly songs that will stick with you long after listening to this album, but maybe not as many as the debut. I am honestly waiting to see this group selling out arenas, because this incredibly talented and unique group is only getting started!
Favorite Songs: "Eiley", "What I Wish I Could Forget", "Sympathy", "The Art of Eye Contact", "Inside Voices"
Least Favorite Songs: "Translate", "Modern Love Affair"
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