Oregon rockers Falling Up released their third studio album, Captiva, on October 2nd of last year. Captiva is Falling Up’s first release since the departure of guitarist Joseph Kisselburgh. Guitarist Micah Sannan and keyboardist Adam Taylor also left the band following the recording of Captiva, leaving the once six-member band a three-piece act. Despite Falling Up’s member changes, their latest release remains true to the elaborate, innovative and creative sound they are recognized for while moving their music in a new, radio-friendly direction.
Similarities between this record and Falling Up’s past records, Crashings and Dawn Escapes, are apparent from the top of the album. Still, the sound is more subdued than previous recordings and the music is incredibly melodic. The first track, “A Guide to Marine Life,” incorporates the bands experimental nature, but the central focus is on lead singer Jessy Ribordy’s beautiful vocals. The rest of the album continues with this same theme that “A Guide to Marine Life” uses. Although the music on this album is the same style as that on their previous records, the songs are mellower, focusing more on keyboard and electronic sounds rather than on loud, crunching guitars. Although different from previous efforts, the new sound works for them.
The lyrics of this album also stand out compared to previous albums in that the lyrics are much less abstract. For example, on the song “Lights of Reedsport,” from Falling Up’s 2005 release, Dawn Escapes, the lyrics say: “Just a step to the grave / Walk to the other side / You’re a slave when you’re free / Cause the remedy says / You will never be saved / Open up cause there's still time.” In contrast, on the first single off of Captiva, “Hotel Aquarium,” Ribordy sings: “Now I know that I’m alive / All the loneliness is filled by you inside / And as I finally breathe the air / You open up my eyes and now I’m alive.” The other thing that stands out about the lyrics is that they constantly point to redemption through Christ and the hope that only He can bring.
Even though the new sound works well for Falling Up, the weakness of the album is the fact that there is very little variation between tracks. Each song seems to fade into the next, without any clear distinction between tracks. While listening to the album straight-through, more than once I thought that I had already heard the song I was listening to. The lack of divergence from this typical sound that is used throughout the entire album is the one big upset of Captiva. Despite this disappointment, this album is good. Not great, but certainly good. It will take me, as I’m sure it will other Falling Up fans, a while to acclimate to their new sound, though. I have no doubt that there will be much more to come from this band, though I am interested to see where they go from here, especially considering their current member situation.
