Album Review: Balance and Composure- Separation (2011)

Before I get into the specific, intricate ways in which Separation, the debut full-length album from Doylestown, PA's Balance and Composure is a soaring, magnificent modern-rock melting pot of sound, there may be an easier way for me to do it: go to the bottom of this review, and look at the "Recommended if you rock" section. The reason I had you do this is twofold: one, to draw your attention to the section itself, which will hopefully make you go buy the album, like, right now (don't worry, this review will be here later), and two, because I know what I'm doing. You may think I sound crazy, comparing it to two of the most-respected indie-rock acts today and one of the titans of the game for the last decade, but that is simply the lasting effect Balance and Composure are poised to have. The band's debut (and I can't stress that enough, this is their debut full-length album) shows that this is by far one of the most promising acts in however-you-label-it rock.

Separation isn't quite what you think it is: though it saw a May release, it doesn't exactly bring you into a summer state of mind. Rather, it is a dark, brooding, emotional trip that the listener needs to be ready to endure rather than listen to. Jon Simmons puts on his best Jesse Lacey or Andy Hull imitation, and provides an intimate look into his psyche, and its almost never bright and cheery. The closest thing you'll find to an uplifting song on Separation is "Defeat the Low," but even that has a pinch of darkness sprinkled throughout the track.

The album begins slowly, with the pessimistic opener "Void," and from the beginning of the slowly-moving opener, Separation identifies itself as the results of an emotional wreck of a life that Simmons has seemed to have lead (I don't know this for a fact, but listen to the album, and you'll understand). The title track of the album follows, and couples with lead single "Quake" as the soundtrack to what sounds like a horrible break-up. "Quake" resonates as one of the standout tracks of the album, where Simmons's voice overpowers the pummeling drums provided by Bailey Van Ellis, and somehow can be heard over the guitars of Andrew Slaymaker (can't make a name like that up) and Erik Petersen. The band are all skilled musicians, and Separation sees them fine-tuning their already proven formula on previous EPs, and expand their expertise of their instruments even further. "Stonehands" sees Simmons overanalyzing himself through it all (a theme he revisits often throughout the album), while the band takes a mellowed-out approach, as opposed to "Quake"'s fast pace. "I Tore You Apart in My Head" follows, and may become the band's essential set-ending song in the future; the song overflows with emotion, and makes the band appear far too young to be this jaded (all the members are within the age range of 19-22). "Fade" continues Simmons's self-analysis, and "Echo" becomes the culmination of it all, as the slow, stripped-down track is Separation's most emotional. 

In a way, Separation almost feels out of place: It is an album that sounds as if it was made by an established rock act who needed a jolt to kick-start their career once again, not by a bunch of twenty-somethings who are far too young to realize the greatness behind what they're making. However, it is that same reasoning that can be used for Separation's claim as the best album of 2011 as well. Quite frankly, debuts haven't been this good, this polished, this mature, in a very long time, and in a world where bands like Black Veil Brides and All Time Low are not only allowed to continue existing, but given major label contracts, Balance and Composure seem destined to be among those ranks sooner rather than later, and then they'll be able to show those "bands" how to write music the correct way.

I read this online, and it truly touched me: on his deathbed, Jon Simmons's grandfather uttered two final words to his grandson: Balance, and composure. Those words have (obviously) stuck with Simmons in many ways, and it also seems to have influenced how carefully Simmons names things regarding his band. Separation, therefore, seems like the best name for Balance and Composure's first full-length album, as it separates the band from the rest of the pack as one of the most talented, heartfelt, and intuitive bands to come out of any genre in the last five years.

The Bottom Line: For God's sake, listen to this album.

Recommended if you rock: Brand New's The Devil and God are Raging Inside of Me, Manchester Orchestra's Mean Everything to Nothing, Jimmy Eat World's Futures