It has been nearly a full 4 years since Citizen’s last LP As You Please, which is a surprise for fans of the band, since they have churned out albums in 2-year cycles for the entirety of their career before this. However, given the situation with COVID-19, delays have riddled the industry and Life in Your Glass World, Citizen’s 4th full length studio album, is no exception. The band reminds you right away what they are about with a blistering opener in ‘Death Dance Approximately’. It sets the tone for the album in more ways than one. The lyrics refer to the pains of everyday life that invade one’s glass world. Sonically, the song represents itself as a perfect jam to get the live show started while also sporting relaxed passages that Citizen fans have come to know and love; it is truly a complete package.
Two singles follow, ‘I Want to Kill You’ and ‘Blue Sunday’. ‘I Want to Kill You’ has it all with its fast-paced drums and dreamy instrumental break and is sure to have the entire crowd bouncing up and down whilst screaming the lyrics. ‘Blue Sunday’ is an ethereal banger that perfectly encapsulates relaxing on a Sunday afternoon with sun beams glittering in through the windows and surrounded by great company. The music video does the song justice multifold. Unfortunately, after that is where the album begins to lull a bit for me.
‘Thin Air’ is fine, and possesses some decently personal lyrics from front man Mat Kerekes, but the song doesn’t seem to reach anything resembling a crescendo. I think the instrumental framing of the song holds it back a bit compared to how transparent and vulnerable Kerekes comes off. Furthermore, the slight synth effect within the last 10 seconds is perhaps the most interesting part of the song. ‘Call Your Bluff’ saves this grouping of songs with an infectious chord progression and a guitar lead that sails over it perfectly. Plus, Kerekes’ vocals are delivered with urgency and they are even doubled up with backing vocals to great effect. This song also delivers some ‘Everybody is Going to Heaven’ vibes which I appreciate, though that fact is not isolated to this song. ‘Pedestal’ and ‘Fight Beat’ close out the low point, with the former peaking within the first verse. It has a sludge-y appeal and gives off the impression that it’s going to be an attitude fueled track. It certainly has attitude, but it’s one note with another example of a lack of climax. ‘Fight Beat’ is a bass driven song and it more stripped back than anything on the album to the point where it feels like an interlude. It fits okay within the track listing, but I cannot say it adds anything to the album other than a 3-minute period to breathe.
Next follows another single in ‘Black and Red’ whose synth driven instrumental provides perhaps the most upbeat melody of the record. The chorus is direct, but makes an impact, and its succinct nature juxtaposes the lyric driven verses which works out very well.
The next three tracks could be the strongest group of the album. Each feels like a closer in it of itself, but no, the band just decided to dial the emotional impact up to 11 for three straight songs. The pseudo title track in ‘Glass World’ puts the album’s message on forefront with the lyric “if life in your glass world makes you feel so alone, then why don’t you say so?” and its introspective nature pairs well the infectious drum beat and subdued chords. It’s a beautiful turn of phrase with a tinge of support and compassion towards breaking out of your “glass world,” whatever that means for you, dear listener.
‘Winter Buds’ could be simply the most beautiful track on the album due to a multitude of reasons. The concept of winter buds – flowers hibernating and preparing to bloom as the weather turns and the warm sun returns to the earth, offers a perfect backdrop to the lyrical themes of the track. “Through winter buds is where I’ll find you” could mean that Kerekes is mulling over the fact that he must overcome the deforested winter within himself to achieve a sort of salvation with something that could then become available to him, whether a person, or something more abstract like an achieved mental state. Not to mention the fact that that could tie into breaking out of your glass world. Musically, the track starts with a peaceful cacophony of acoustic plucks, sailing electric guitar chords, and perfectly accented drums. The group then stabilizes for the first half of the song in flawless delivery, including during the chorus, which one can almost not sing along to if not in tears. Then the song briefly erupts as the winter buds would on the eve of Spring. To be a fly on the wall during the creation of this track would be an honor and I do think this is a special track within the band’s discography.
The closer, ‘Edge of the World’ is aptly named and aptly placed on the record. It seems to deal with one who is on the precipice of breaking out of their glass world and realizing the turmoil ahead of them, but despite that, welcoming it with open arms. One of the more poignant lyrics on the album is stated here and reinforces that thematic concept with: “But at the end of the day, there is beauty in tragedy.” Kerekes is saying that recognizing the pain ahead and taking the plunge anyway is a respectable act and one that leads to beauty, almost like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. Instrumentally, the song doesn’t break the sound barrier with respect to ingenuity, but it gets the job done and then some. The vocal effect present on the chorus gives the track a huge sound, as does the drums with their classic ramp-up delivery. It’s a closer that most listeners will want to have on repeat, which is a rarity, in my opinion.
There’s something for everyone on Life in Your Glass World, and though there are some lower points, the album is super easy to digest and brings about a whirlpool of emotions to lament on. Kerekes sounds as good as ever and the meticulous formation of these tracks is evident in the band’s performances. I do also suggest a deep dive into the lyrical content, as it is one of the band’s strong suits. Here’s to a bright future for Citizen.
7.5/10