Tag Archives: Reason Enough

CROWS: The Deaf Institute, Manchester. 10th October 2024.

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Last night I went to my first gig of the year. I tried to work out why I’d left it so late in the year, but I don’t think I wanted to see anyone so far. Everyone I want to see is towards the end of the year, so I guess it worked out. It was also the first gig I’d been to in 7 years totally off sertraline. After 7 years, I stopped taking it in May. There were days where I forgot to take it, then I decided I didn’t want another summer of sertraline sweats! I know you’re not supposed to just stop, nor would I tell someone to do what I did, but it worked for me. I went to the Crows gig last night, and I felt. I felt more than I had in a while, and it felt like every bit of work I’d put into myself to “get better” had finally paid off. But that doesn’t mean all is okay; nothing and no one ever fully is, and that’s absolutely okay. It’s more than okay. Sometimes you need to go see your favourite band play in one of your favourite venues and listen to the songs that fixed parts of you no person or medication could ever touch.

Before I get into it- let it be known that headline bands starting at 8.30pm is delightful. More of that please! Home by 10.30pm- BLISS! I mean I’m still tired now, but it was absolutely worth it. It always is.

The band glide onto the stage and immediately annihilate the room with the opener, Reason Enough. That song live something else, truly. This band live are something else. You don’t just see them once and feel it’s enough. The setlist was divine, and of course in an ideal world they’d start at 6 and do all 3 records, but we don’t want to tire them out! The setlist is all I could want. Hearing songs like Room 156 and Healing live will ALWAYS make everything better. I thought they’d be the songs that would make me sob like a child that’s lost its favourite toy, but I held it together. If any song was going to ruin me, it would have been Vision of Me but again, I held it together. I think hearing Vision of Me live takes you to a different place where it doesn’t hurt so much to hear it, you know? If anything, it was an honour to see the new songs live and hear them the way they should be. Each of them owns the stage in their own way, and at times you don’t know where to look. For the most part I think I had my eyes closed and just took everything in. It felt like home, and it’s a hard feeling to find and keep. Music is always a constant. It’ll always be there.

High praise needs to be given to Jack Milwaukee for his exceptional sound talents. I’ve never heard a band so loud at this venue, and as soon as I got home, I was fully aware that my hearing was not that great. Would I sleep through my alarm in the morning? Nope. But the worry was there. If you don’t leave bruised or slightly broken, and in this case, unable to hear- than you’ve had a good time. The sound was so good! It was so slick, so loud and just perfect.

There are so many moments during the gig where you can’t believe you’re witnessing a band so bloody good play a room so small. These songs would sound perfect in a stadium with us all belting them out, but you also feel at home in these small venues singing your heart out with a few hundred people, to the songs that have saved you many times. And continue to save you. Just before they played Every Day of Every Year, James gave a little speech about having anxiety and it getting better; I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated something so much at a gig before. It was one of those things you needed to hear at that moment; and it made a world of difference. I think that’s part of why I love this band and why their songs mean so much. Also, I forgot just how divine Wednesday’s Child is live. Holy shit! James’ vocals on this are unreal, and live? Live it is INSANE. They all make this song sound so big live. When James shouts “Blame me for all your mistakes” it just takes you on this wild ride. It’s up there as being one of the best songs I’ve seen live. Demeanour was insane live too. Under 2 minutes of chaos- perfect!

 A couple songs into the set and he goes wandering round the crowd and at one point later in the set, he extends the fancy mic (you know the one!) to someone in the crowd for them to sing into. Tiny moments stick with you, and my god James’ voice is STRONG. Anyone who has seen them live knows how slick their set is and how strong they all sound together- but maybe it was down to Jack being an exceptional sound/tech person, but they sounded heavenly last night. Sometimes, you go to a gig, and you want to stay in that moment for the rest of time because it’s so comforting- last night’s show was exactly that. Way more than that.

There was a solid mix of old and new songs, and every song just felt like a rush to the body. Like you were being jolted back to life. I know I’ve mentioned it, but I’ll never get over the power Room 156 and Healing has live. With every listen, regardless of the setting, those two songs just seem to mean more and more to me. I think I feel the same about Every Day of Every Year; there’s reassurance in those three songs that you cannot get anywhere else. You’ve got the classics such as Slowly Separate, Garden of England and Closer Still; but when you witness The Itch live- my god! Something hits you. There is something about this song live that can correct every uneasy feeling you have. You can’t help but allow your eyes dart across the stage when this song kicks of- Steve goes wild on the guitar, Sam destroys the drums, Jith makes the bass sound like a demon and James brings it in with his vocals. This happens on every single song, but The Itch live does something else to the mind and body.

The night ends with Is It Better? I don’t think there’s a more fitting Crows song to end the gig with. It’s hopeful but cautious, and I think because it has so much power live- it makes you want the gig to start over again and you witness and feel all of this again and again. They aren’t a band that you see once and that’s it. Absolutely not. They’re a band that you keep seeing because watching them grow in every way is joy to witness and hear.

I’m doing this all again on Tuesday evening, and it cannot come round quick enough.

CROWS: Reason Enough.

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I have stopped and started writing this more times than I can admit. I have deleted, deleted, and slammed my laptop shut, then tried again to even start this. How do you even start writing about this record? It’s pretty obvious that Crows have never (and will never) release a bad song or record. The 3 singles from the new record have all been exceptional (I don’t think any song has truly moved me like Vision Of Me has, and I’m sort of able to listen to it now without having a little cry! That’s growth 😉) and sometimes when a band releases such strong singles, you feel the rest of the record may not match up. There is nothing to worry about on Reason Enough. I have no idea how many times I listened to it yesterday, but I didn’t feel ready to put my thoughts down. But I am now.

The record opens with the title track, Reason Enough. If you’re looking for the best opener for a record this year-it’s this one. The drums and the bass? HOLY.SHIT. It’s got this heaviness to it that is on a Stoner Rock level. Jith and Sam truly shine on this one. The drums feel like a crashing into the ear drums and the bass feels like someone is possessing your body with electric shocks, and you’re not mad about it. When it all comes together and gets heavier, and heavier- as a Crows fan, you feel this relief. Relief that this record is FINALLY here. Inject this song right into my eardrums. I don’t care about the damage. James’ vocals on this are simply perfect, and Steve’s guitar on this should be illegal. In fact, it should be a crime for a song to be this euphoric. The way it changes for the last minute or so, and the song comes alive in a different way altogether- are you kidding me?! This live is going to be wild.

I’m going to skip over Bored, Is It Better? and Vision Of Me because I’ve already written about them, and I think my feelings towards Vision Of Me are very clear. In 30 years’, time, I will still be calling it as one of the most beautiful and honest songs ever written. I want it tattooed on my skin and carved into my brain. It’s a reminder. It’s a crutch. Much like Healing and Room 156. I think they’re my holy trinity of Crows songs; I’d play them to someone who hadn’t heard them before, but I don’t think I could handle a negative reaction! Anyway, let’s move on because I will go into why Vision Of Me is probably one of the best songs ever written again!

Land Of The Rose is a perfect anthem declaring how shit this country is. Turn on the news and all you see is pain, poverty and politicians repeating their nonsensical lies. This is why we need bands like Crows. This is why we need music or any form of art- it’s an escape but also helps you to see how awful it all is but can give you a little bit of hope that it might get better. Maybe. The way James writes and sings about shame, despair, and every emotion possible. The lyrics on this record are heavy; but with aspects of sadness flowing throughout. That isn’t a bad thing at all- it just makes you think, and it also makes you feel less alone, and odd for feeling the way you do. The songs on Reason Enough feel a lot more personal and tougher. There is still that beautiful gentleness in James’ writing that we lean into and cling onto. I guess at the heart of it, when you find a band that you truly get and they get you- it becomes a safe space, doesn’t it? This record definitely feels like a safe space. As far as political songs go, this one holds some true weight and given how awful this country has been; we need songs like this to really hammer home that things HAVE to improve.

Every Day Of Every Year is another one I’m excited to see live. I love the way the lyrics take you on a journey of every thought you’ve probably had, and by hearing someone else say it- you feel this connection. It’s a connection you won’t get from friends, lovers, families- it’s one from music and sometimes that’s the biggest and most permanent connection we’ll feel, and that’s absolutely fine. I’d be lost without that type of connection, and this song is a really solid way of expressing that. Every single day this feeling repeats and every single day you fight with yourself and the world to keep fucking going. It’s hard, I know. But I like to think it can and does get a little easier. What do you have without hope? I think this song is on the same level as Vision Of Me- there’s something about the lyrics that really get you in the gut. The guitar on this one is of the best moments on the record.

There’s such a natural growth on this record, and I don’t mean from Silver Tongues to Beware Believers to Reason Enough. I mean every single song in its own right is a step up from the song before, and that’s how you know you’ve found a truly special record. The way we get to Lie To Me from Bored is a whirlwind, and it’s heavenly to hear. You can hear the band grow with every song on this record, and you can really feel it in every single element of the songs. The production on this record is unreal too. It always is with Crows isn’t it. Lie To Me is exceptional, and the way we go right into Living On My Knees? Who gave the band permission to be this great? They just took it. Over and over again. The line, “I’m not strong enough for self defense” cuts through you, my god! What a line!

Living On My Knees is my favourite. Of course, I’ll change my mind in a week or so. I’ll call Vision Of Me as my favourite Crows song ever (please see holy trinity a few paragraphs above!) but Living On My Knees is something else. It makes you want to write; it makes you want to get every raw feeling out there; it makes you want to have this song on repeat for hours. It just gives you something that you can’t put into exact words, but you know you’re listening to something truly remarkable. There are heavy moments on the record, but there are also lighter moments, and it’s found on Silhouettes.

James’ vocals on Silhouettes will blow you away. It’s a different side to what he can do, and I think it’s one that will leave us Crows fans in awe for a long, long time. The bass on this is divine- again, it should be a crime for something to sound so perfect. I feel bad for any band about to release anything after next Friday because Reason Enough is THE record of the year. From around 2 minute 20 on Silhouettes, you cannot help but let every part of you feel smacked about from what’s going on in this song. When James sings, “You don’t find peace when you’re older” my god it gets you in the gut. This song truly shows the growth in the band in every single way, and how they have a distinctive sound BUT you can hear they’ve pushed themselves on this record. Go back and listen to their earlier stuff, then listen to Silhouettes and you’ll hear how stronger they all sound- both together and separately.

Reason Enough ends with D-Gent, and it reminds me of their earlier sound. The record starts heavy and ends heavy, and what more could you ask for?! This record is made up of their best work to date, and the opener and closer of the record are the backbone of it. What happens in the middle is that you get a mixture of soft, loud, gentle, vulnerable, anthemic and healing songs. Every emotion possible is in the middle, and you may feel all over the place but the closer, D-Gent brings you back to where you need to be. Where you should be. This record feels like home.

Record number 3 is THEIR record. Sound-wise it is full of moments that will make you realise why you fell in love with the band at the start. For new listeners, you’ll probably have found a band that will become your life. Crows have completely nailed it with this record, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a fan if I tried. The record is honest, political, brutal, heartbreaking, hopeful and an ethereal work of art. It’s the band at their best and I love so much how they have experimented with their sound and made something really out of this world.

The first few listens, I had to stop what I was doing and really take in the record and what was going on. Then with more and more listens, I was able to really get into what spoke to me on this record. It’s obviously everything, and honestly? The 3 singles we’ve had so far don’t do this record justice. There’s so much creative freedom on this record. Everything is heavier and you can really hear in the songs that not everything has been overthought- it’s just a natural progression, and like James said- “This is Crows in high definition.”

CROWS: Vision Of Me.

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Sometimes the biggest comfort you can have is a band you love, putting out a song that just rips you apart. That comfort is found in knowing someone else gets it. The things we keep close are released by someone who doesn’t know our name or face. That feeling of anonymity makes it easier to absorb every feeling the song gives you. You weren’t prepared to have a little cry on the tram to work at 7.40 this morning, were you?

For me, Crows are a band that gently get to your soul. It’s all well and good finding a band that can mend or break your heart or calm your mind- but when you find one that get you right in the gut- that’s when you know you’ve found THAT band. Vision Of Me is the second release from their new record, Reason Enough. And in all honesty? This song should have come with a warning. No song should break you like that. Lyrically, it’s their best work. I don’t think I’m going to hear a song like this for a long, long time. I’m okay with that because A) It’s Crows and no one can ever compare to them and B) I don’t think I’m a tough enough person to handle it. I’d rather welcome being overly sensitive than be told to toughen up. Vision Of Me has this beautiful sadness and honesty to it. You don’t have to be wallowing in your own sadness to feel sadness at the moment. The world is absolutely cruel and sick at the moment, and it probably won’t heal in my lifetime. Vision Of Me is a beautifully written song and it reminds me of Healing and Room 156 from Beware Believers- it has that gentleness to it that comes naturally to the band. I think for those who love this band, they’re a safety net. I know they are for me. I want to avoid listening to Vision Of Me because it is painful but my god it is one of the most important songs I’ve ever heard.

The lyrics feel like a healing process. They are a healing process. There are lines in this song could break the toughest of humans, and by no means am I tough at all, so it wasn’t hard for this song it floor me so early this morning, and I keep getting teary eyed every time I try listen to it again. The video is a work of art too- my god the way it reminds me of Wonderful Life by Black is too much (Top 5 greatest songs of all time, irrespective of genre. Thank you!) There’s beautiful hints of bands like Interpol in their sound and that’s probably why I love Crows so much but honestly? Nothing can compare to this song. I just know that Reason Enough is going to be my favourite record of the year. I know their show in Manchester will heal and break and heal and break me. The best bands will do this to you.

I don’t think any line will get me in the gut like “I need a break from this reality, and it seems like you do too” or “It’s the staying alive that’s hard” do. There is so much hope in this song. It does feel sad, but as I force myself to listen without bloody crying, I can feel and hear the hope. And I get that a lot from their music, and that may just be why I love them so, so much. Their music is like a backwards hug from the person you love the most. When James sings “Peace is easy, and love is easy. It’s the letting go that hurts.” You might as well rip my heart out of my chest with rusty pliers (please don’t.) Bloody hell. A work of art. A painful and relatable work of art. Up to that line in the song, I’m alright but there’s something about that line that makes me just bawl.

The video fits the song perfectly- I won’t spoil it for you, but the last shot of the video got me right in the gut too. That last shot sums up the song in the most poetic and purest way possible. I always think I couldn’t love Crows as much as I do, but they then go and do something like this, and it just throws me. Surely it must be a crime for a band to be this great? I think with everything they do; they will always improve. And I know you cannot improve perfection, but this band do it every single time. I hate wishing time away, but I cannot wait for the next month and a bit to pass, so I can religiously listen to the new record over and over.

For me, I find listening to Crows are really cathartic process. I listen to them every single day- they’re my comfort band afterall, but sometimes, I step away from that and really take in how phenomenal they are. Vision Of Me is one of those moments. I honestly don’t get how someone could listen to this song and not be moved by it.

Most of their UK tour dates can be found here: CROWS Concerts & Live Tour Dates: 2024-2025 Tickets | Bandsintown

Reason Enough is out on 27th September via Bad Vibrations Records.