The Death Of The Self Preservation Society, which drops in September on Last Chance Records, will very likely be my favorite album of 2013. It’s not as polished as Sweet Saint Me and it doesn’t have the alt country feel of III but that’s because it’s not those albums, it is however, quite possible some of their best work to date. While I’ve always loved TCG’s albums, their live shows are a thing of beauty. They make an art of gutting themselves on stage and telling our fortunes in the viscera. The Death Of The Self Preservation Society comes as close to capturing that as I think you can get on a record. It demands volume, it’s impolite, and drags you in to Shane and Micah’s world while kicking you right in the teeth. (If you haven’t seen TCG live then you’re missing the fuck out and need to remedy that as immediately as you possibly can)

I don’t know whether I’d call it concept album but there is a theme here, a thread, a vein if you will, that screams “What’s the point of living if you aren’t fucking living!” And there’s this urgency to it, something in the music that lets you know that tomorrow might be too late. Lay your mistakes on the altar of the past, let them go, and take a deep, free breath and start living. This ever present push for the listener to accept that there is a better way to live hums through every track, driven by the music and slammed home by the lyrics. It’s an album that makes you want to get up from your desk, flip off your boss, and go find someone to have a fucking adventure with! And I know some folks won’t like the production on this one, it’s not as ear friendly as some of their older stuff but I think that’s on purpose. It’s a little jarring when you first put on the headphones, turn up the volume, and let the blood start to trickle out of your ears but when you combine that with the underlying themes it makes perfect sense. Sure it could have been made to sound polished but that’s not the point of this album. I really think the point is to take the listener out of their comfort zone and create some dissatisfaction with just drifting through the day to day existence. Whether it’s Micah and his flawless pop culture references or Shane’s brooding I think they really get the point across on this one.

Admittedly I’ve never sat down and talked to the boys about the creative process so my one complaint about this record might not be all that valid but I’d have really liked another track or two by Shane on this one. I think the theme is fitting for the darker type stuff he recorded for his solo album. And with that being my only real complaint I can say what you’ve already assumed: The Death Of The Self Preservation Society is Essential Listening! Now it’s time for you to get off your ass and go buy the soundtrack to your next really awesome bad decision…

Two Cow Garage – Stars & Gutters

Two Cow Garage – Van Gough

Two Cow Garage – Spiraling Into Control

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