Every given moment is a present. At least when listening to the Stereomud's "Every Given Moment." With grueling guitars and with the rhythm section pounding away, Stereomud’s sophomore effort is sure to surprise many and satisfy more. Each song provides catchy choruses, something most bands shy away from out of fear from being to "radio-friendly." Stereomud on the other hand may be radio-friendly but does not flaunt it and in fact seems to speak out against it, especially on the song "Anything but Jesus," a song whose chorus echoes with "I don’t want to be your jesus."
The opening song on the album is a challenge to the world, something that George W. Bush has been telling Sadaam Hussein for a while and that is "Show Me." Just like Bush had enough, Stereomud has had enough and refuses to sit by idly. The song is a premonition for what to expect.
The next song "Anything But Jesus," also has a blatant attitude of not wanting to listen to voices but wanting to see action.
"Breathing," echoes a sentiment heard far too often, but it offers a new spin which unfortunately is not new for many in the area of life. That spin is the luck of being there for someone yet knowing all along that in the end you will be turned into the life source of a leech. That is a situation that should not be wished on anyone.
"Define this," has no real place at this point in the album yet it's in the right place. Just like the chorus says "You cannot define this," the song's placement echoes it. It may not be a great song in itself yet the mystique surrounding it gives way to thundering lyrics.
A theme central in this album is the fighting to prove one's worth. The song "Control Freak," is an example of that. With a chorus that rings in the ears of it's listeners "Control Freak," gives rise to an age where guitars were heavy and vocal that much more stronger with lyrics to sugar coat it all.
The next three songs "Drop Down," "Coming Home," and "Fallen," all belong together. While not being great songs musically they each contain keys to a door to the heart of a fallen one. Something which differs from the previous songs in that it seems out of order, with the idea of being used only to be turned around into being the one there for someone "falling." Yet a lesson can be learned from this which is that life throws curveballs and you and don't ever close the door on your friends.
The next song "Yesterday," is the glue which binds the two sections of the album together. It examines the binds of friendship and teaches that “faced it all, did our best, we learn from yesterday a lesson." Hope can never fade in friendships, and no matter how hard it may get there is only a lesson to be learned to assist in the strengthening of friendship.
"...you’re more than my addiction," is how the following song "My Addiction," starts off, and is the whole song summed up. Swaying back and forth from animosity to love, this album seems to take a final twist, one that puts a new face on the thought behind the album. The overall quality of the song contributes to the lyrics to make this (in my opinion) the best song on the album. The confrontation described in this song can only make one have hope. The last song "Searching," is a continuation of the previous song and serves as a dessert which one should eat only to wait for doubles. It’s lyrical content provides a final analysis to an album full of twists and turns only to repeat everything over in six words, which are "I fell that I am searching."
"Every Given Moment" is an album whose musical content is unquestionably top notch and whose lyrical content makes for an interesting story. In the end of the day when all is said and done, the album's main idea is that we should be thankful for "every given moment," of friendship, whether it be turbulent, tumultuous or blissful.
Track Listing:
1. Show Me
2. Anything But Jesus
3. Breathing
4. Define This
5. Control Freak
6. Drop Down
7. Coming Home
8. Fallen
9. Yesterday
10. My Addiction
11. Searching
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