Common Existence (2009)

This New Jersey band deserves props for surviving its stint with a major label that never quite knew how to handle their brainy post-hardcore jams. But throughout Thursday's return to indieland, singer Geoff Rickly and his mates threaten to overdose on their newfound freedom: Common Existence is long on complicated instrumental textures and twisty-turny song structures yet woefully short on the fist-pumping melodies that keep this kind of stuff from sounding like musical math. As a result, tracks such as ''Last Call'' and ''Subway Funeral'' are easier to admire than to enjoy. B–

Download This: Listen to the song ''Friends in the Armed Forces'' on the band's MySpace

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