“Digital Ash in a Digital Urn” is an album I got for Christmas a few years ago from my boyfriend’s brother. I’ve listened to it a few times before when I first got it, and I did remember liking it.

On this week of listening to it I still agree with my past thoughts on it. I thought the music was very addictive. It’s not too loud or rowdy, making the album a good one to relax to. The random baby crying noises, though, is a bit strange, but I’m sure it has something to do with the song.

But the lyrics are what caught me the most. They were very thought provoking and told their own individual stories (which for me is just as good as a compilation album). Depending on the song you listen to, you get a mixture of religious, alcohol related, sex related lyrics, which is a very interesting combination to have on one album.

From “Arc of Time (Time Code)”

“I hear if you make friends
With Jesus Christ
You’ll get right up
From that chalk outline

And then you’ll get dolled up
And you’ll dress in white
All to take your place
In his chorus line”

From”Hit the Switch”

I’m staring out into that vacuum again
From the back porch of my mind
The only thing that’s alive, I’m all there is
And I start attacking my vodka
Stab the ice with my straw
My eyes have turned red as stoplights
You seem ready to walk
You know I’ll call you eventually
When I wanna talk, ’til then you’re invisible

From “Take it Easy (Love Nothing)”

First with your hands and then with your mouth
A downpour of sweat, damp cotton clouds
I was a fool, you were my friend
We made it happen
You took off your clothes, left on the light
You stood there so brave
You used to be shy
Each feature improved, each movement refined and eyes like a showroom

The only thing I would say I don’t really like about this album is the vocals. They’re pretty rough, in my opinion. But because the music and lyrics are so amazing I could easily see past the vocals and listen to this album several times in a row without growing tired of it.

And each morning she wakes
With a dream to describe
Something lovely that bloomed
In her beautiful mind
I say, “I’ll trade you one
For two nightmares of mine,
I have somewhere I die,
I have somewhere we all die”

From “Hit the Switch”

Overall grade: B+