Fans of Catfish and the Bottlemen have been waiting patiently for the band's third record, and that patience is now being rewarded with The Balance.
"The title is from a lyric in one of the songs called Basically." said lead singer Van McCann.
The record was recorded over a 12-month period at two locations in the UK, Grouse Lodge in Moate, Republic of Ireland, and The Chapel in the countryside of East Lincolnshire. It was produced by Jacknife Lee who's known for his work with U2, The Killers, REM, and One Direction. The band talked about how they really liked the live-in studio experience vs the clocking in for the day experience. Full immersion.
There have been a handful of singles released, including the lead track and lead single Longshot, as well as Fluctuate, Conversation, and just recently, 2All. Now we have the remaining seven tracks, and we feel like they were worth waiting for.
The Balance follows their 2014 release The Balcony and 2016's The Ride. We're stoked that they'll be coming back through town to promote this record. We can't say enough about how much we loved seeing Van and Bondy up close when they played a Sugar Beach Session while promoting their last album.
The album is rock, it's pop, it's angsty, it's sweet, it makes you move and it makes me smile.
There isn't a single track that I wanted to skip and I'm having a tough time picking a favourite.
While I'm not going to do a track-by-track breakdown, I am going to mention a few of the songs that I seem to be waking up with in my head. You decide if you can pick a favourite from The Balance. I'd love to hear what you have to say in the comments.
Longshot
Released in January of this year, Longshot starts off slow and simple. It builds, adding layers of instruments and increasing tempo.
This was the first song they recorded for the album, the first release and the song is about a chance, paying off.
Fluctuate
Fluctuate is the second song on the album and also the second song released. It's a modern love song with a great hook. I love the changes in tempo and the energy that this song exudes.
There's a great guitar solo that made me feel like we need more guitar solos.
2All
The first ballad on the album, 2All is a testament to friendship. It's a beautiful message that reminds us to appreciate the people who stick around for more than just the fun times.
"They said, "I give my love to all
All the ones that stuck around
The ones I counted on
When I needed to get out
And I share my love with all
All the people that come 'round
I want to highlight Van's use of his lower register on this song. It's pure gold.
The Balance 's eleven tracks come together to form a great album. It changes pace and each song wears it's own hat, it delivers Catfish and the Bottlemen in ways that we expect and adds some new dimension. After watching the band talk about this album, it feels like they loved the recording process and the songs. And it feels like they're looking forward to sharing it with us.
The Balance is available everywhere you buy or stream music, and there are some cool options including an exclusive white vinyl.
Catfish and the Bottlemen The Balance Tour Dates
6/11 - Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore Charlotte
6/12 - Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room at Old National Centre *(RESCHEDULED DATE)
6/14 - Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
6/17 - Toronto, ON @ Rebel
6/19 - Boston, MA @ House of Blues - Boston
6/25 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
6/26 - Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew's Hall
Catfish and the Bottlemen The Balance Track List
1. Longshot
2. Fluctuate
3. 2all
4. Conversation
5. Sidetrack
6. Encore
7. Basically
8. Intermission
9. Mission
10. Coincide
11. Overlap
