Review / 200 Words Or Less
Balance and Composure
Acoustic

From Doylestown, PA, Balance and Composure has created a lot of buzz in the past few years for their melodic and emotional contributions to the ever-changing underground scene. They’ve released two EPs, a split with Tiger’s Jaw, and a full-length called Separation, all on No Sleep Records. Again teaming up with No Sleep, we have an acoustic 7-inch in which the band rehashes three tracks from their full-length and brings them down to a more radio-friendly plane.

It’s a great listen if you’re in the mood for a slightly whiny rendition of beautifully constructed songs with simple progressions and a strong sense of relaxation. Many bands have done acoustic versions of already loved songs but few have actually reconstructed them in different timings, which is something that makes this album worth listening to. However, if you are a fan of Balance and Composure, you will no doubt notice that the emotional urgency that carried these songs in their previous form has diminished quite a bit and this could be very upsetting for some fans. There is no doubt that all three of these tracks were better on the full-length, but that does not make this a bad release. The hard work that comes through in the making of this album is admirable because, as anyone will tell you, it’s hard to change up a song that you’ve already completed and played over and over again.

If you purchase this expecting the band that you’ve put on a pedestal, you will surely be disappointed. But if you listen to it with an open mind and are in the right mood, this is a very good addition to Balance and Composure’s repertoire.