Album Details

• Artist: Cursive
• Album: The Storms Of Early Summer: Semantics Of Song
• Label: LBJ
• Year of Release: 1998
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: digitalbath on 2008-04-02

Media

Though each album in their discography gets progressively better in different ways, Cursive's, The Storms of Early Summer: Semantics of Song is nothing short of brilliant for a sophomore album. The entire album is sung and played with a subtle at times and then not so subtle force that drives the short album forward until its climactic ending.

The album starts off on a different note than most albums with "The Rhyme Scheme." The song is a bit more intense than most opening songs in an album and is in a 3/4 time signature, which typically isn't seen until the latter half of an album if at all in the alternative rock scene. The lyrics speak of the meaninglessness of words, making for an ironic start. Following "The Rhyme Scheme", we are driven forward in a fast-paced sort of way until the two epic build-ups of the album.

"Proposals" and "Semantics of Sermon" definitely hold the most emphasis of all of the songs on this album. Following "Break In the New Year", "Proposals" sounds as if the album has taken a turn for a quieter and more melancholy place, or has it? Both "Proposals" and "Semantics of Sermon" start off quiet and in an emphatic way, explode upon unsuspecting listeners screaming "Maybe we're not ourselves at all!" and "Attention, attention/that's all we're asking for." Though monotone in his delivery, Tim Kasher wants his points to resonate in these two songs.

The final four songs end on the same note that the album began. "A Little Song and Dance", "When Summer's Over Will We Dream of Spring", and "Northern Winds" are all just rushing to the final note until you get to the album's concluding song: "Absence Makes the Day Go Longer." This song, though sung using the same stunning lyrics typical of Tim Kasher drags on for days. Kasher seems to make sure each word is said with the same emphasis no matter the meaning associated to it. The four minute and thirty-seven second song ends the album making you feel like you've been listening to Cursive for weeks, as you should after experiencing this album.

The Storms of Early Summer: Semantics of Sermon, though it doesn't resonate with me as much as the albums that follow it, is just the foundation of a miraculous musical career for Tim Kasher. The guitar will have you swimming melodiously amongst lyrics that pull you along with every graceful word. This album is definitely one to have in your Cursive collection.

User Reviews and Comments

on 2008-02-28 digitalbath Said:

I think lyrics wise it is definitely more universal like you said, but in the scope of Cursive albums I think universal could be a synonym for broad and vague. My favorite album lyrics-wise is Domestica by far. I love albums that aren't just 12 songs, but are an actual album. Each song is dependent on the next in Domestica to tell its story.
Rating: 8/10

on 2008-02-28 kev_stev Said:

Lyrics wise, this is by far the best thing Kasher has ever done. It's more universal and thought-provoking than anything else he's ever written, and he's written a lot of amazing things.

I like this album best, though I'm willing to admit it's not Cursive's best album.
Rating: 10/10

on 2008-02-28 DeathEyesForKiley Said:

True. Tim Kasher is amazing and his eccentrics antics live make me dig it that much more.
Not Rated

on 2008-02-28 digitalbath Said:

Good point, but regardless, Tim Kasher is brilliant in all of his albums. I don't think this was his best by any means. Let me back myself up by saying this album is to the rest of Cursive's albums what marijuana is to harder drugs. The Storms of Early Summer: Semantics of Song = the gateway album.
Rating: 8/10

on 2008-02-27 DeathEyesForKiley Said:

Brilliance is better than an eight. In my opinion this album does not touch Ugly Organ, Demestica, or Happy Hollow.
Not Rated

Review:

on 2008-02-20 digitalbath Said:

Though each album in their discography gets progressively better in different ways, Cursives, The Storms of Early Summer: Semantics of Song is nothing short of brilliant for a sophomore album. The entire album is sung and played with a subtle at times and then not so subtle force that drives the short album forward until its climactic ending.

The album starts off on a different note than most albums with The Rhyme Scheme. The song is a bit more intense than most opening songs in an album and is in a 3/4 time signature, which typically isnt seen until the latter half of an album if at all in the alternative rock scene. The lyrics speak of the meaninglessness of words, making for an ironic start. Following The Rhyme Scheme, we are driven forward in a fast-paced sort of way until the two epic build-ups of the album.

Proposals and Semantics of Sermon definitely hold the most emphasis of all of the songs on this album. Following Break In the New Year, Proposals sounds as if the album has taken a turn for a quieter and more melancholy place, or has it? Both Proposals and Semantics of Sermon start off quiet and in an emphatic way, explode upon unsuspecting listeners screaming Maybe were not ourselves at all! and Attention, attention/thats all were asking for. Though monotone in his delivery, Tim Kasher wants his points to resonate in these two songs.

The final four songs end on the same note that the album began. A Little Song and Dance, When Summers Over Will We Dream of Spring, and Northern Winds are all just rushing to the final note until you get to the albums concluding song: Absence Makes the Day Go Longer. This song, though sung using the same stunning lyrics typical of Tim Kasher drags on for days. Kasher seems to make sure each word is said with the same emphasis no matter the meaning associated to it. The four minute and thirty-seven second song ends the album making you feel like youve been listening to Cursive for weeks, as you should after experiencing this album.

The Storms of Early Summer: Semantics of Sermon, though it doesnt resonate with me as much as the albums that follow it, is just the foundation of a miraculous musical career for Tim Kasher. The guitar will have you swimming melodiously amongst lyrics that pull you along with every graceful word. This album is definitely one to have in your Cursive collection.


Rating: 8/10

Review:

on 2007-06-20 kev_stev Said:

Though unheeded by any form of media, Cursive released one of the best albums of the 1990s entitled, "The Storms Of Early Summer: Semantics Of Song." Ingenious song-writing would be an understatement in an album where Kasher's brooding, existentialistic lyrics are emphasized by piercing guitars and raspy signing--with intermittent screams of what seems like pure agony. This album is completely inexhaustible and though it may take some time for the listener to appreciate it, once he/she grasps Cursive's meaning, it'll be nearly impossible to put down.
Rating: 10/10