After all these years,
Smoke or Fire obviously feel comfortable in their musical skin, although with life, not so much so, as the themes that escape from
This Sinking Ship make clear. Kicking off with "What Separates Us All," an exposition on the U.S.'s myriad divisions,
SoF explore the damage inflicted by a variety of causes on both society and the individual. "Irish Handcuffs" looks at the latter, sharply etching the wasted days and lives lost to drink, while "Breadwinner" intertwines the personal and the political. Although anger laps at this Ship's bows and angsty waves crest over its sides, it's exhaustion that finally breaks the mast and sends the ship sinking to the sea floor. This is particularly apparent on "I'll Be Gone" and "Melatonin," both of which shudder with aching futility, while "Little Bohemia" runs aground on apathy. Of course stress and anger are exhausting, the outrages taking place daily inevitably dishearten and disgust, sapping what strength we have left.
SoF were already weakened by their grueling tour schedule, and the lyrics reflect their bone-weary state, but not the sharpness of their pens. None of this, however, is evident in the music, which remains full of life, spitting with vim and vinegar, as well as anthemic choruses and powerful melodies. Nor is this the sound a band churning rote-like away in a rut, for the songs are wonderfully eclectic, from the splendidly poppy "The Patty Hearst Syndrome" to the regal hard rock-goes-hardcore of "Shine," across to the storming melodic punk of the title track and over the glowing Wave-flecked "Folding the Pages." Their ship may be sinking, but
SoF burn so brightly here, rescue surely is imminent. A fabulous album, whose weighty lyrical discourse is perfectly ballasted by the invigorating music that surrounds it. ~ Jo-Ann Greene