I have to admit that when I first heard When Broken is Easily Fixed, Silverstein’s debut, I didn’t think they’d be around long. I, in specific, didn’t think they were capable of making one of the most powerful conceptually themed records ever. I was wrong and tonight I suppose I’ll be having crow for dinner for what Silverstein has evolved into has very few peers.
A Shipwreck in the Sand is a deeply intense experience that follows a theme penned by vocalist Shane Told. The album is divided into four chapters, “It Burns Within Us All,” “Liars, Cheaters, and Thieves,” “Fight Fire With Fire,” and “Death and Taxes.” Due to the potentially clichéd nature of each section, this album could seemingly have gone horribly wrong, but it doesn’t. Not even once. Each section stands on its own, causing this reviewer to wonder if this would have been even more interesting release as a string of EPs, simply because the biggest drawback to this record is the fact that it takes a lot of absorbing.
Despite the cohesive nature of A Shipwreck in the Sand, there are some obvious highlights. The first one that comes to mind is the heavy and passionate “Vices” which features Liam Cormier. The burning vocal work is like a fire burning inside the plastic as the band rage against the infidelity found inside a failing marriage. Another highlight is the soaring and complex “We Are Not the World,” which inaugurates the final chapter of the album, “Death and Taxes.” It’s anthemic but never stands still long enough to completely morph into a fist pumper. The fact that the band manage to keep you hooked throughout is quite an accomplishment in and of itself. The fast moving and hook heavy “I Am the Arsonist” is another highlight, blending hardcore and emotional vocals together brilliantly, reminding us all why we initially liked the combination of the two styles.
Overall this is an album that gets better with each listen. I immediately enjoyed it but you’ll be surprised by how much better it gets with each repeated listen. If you like rock, emo, or hardcore then you really can’t go wrong with this album. Those who love intellectually challenging records will find a lot to dig into here as well. This is easily Silverstein’s greatest work to date and I’m not convinced they can top it. A Shipwreck in the Sand is a definite contender for album of the year in 2009.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
