You got that magic touch There are some people who seem to have a magical touch. They have a way of making everything they do turn to gold. Whether it is in their personal or professional life, they have an uncanny ability to make things work out in their favor. What is the secret behind this magic touch? One key ingredient is confidence. People who possess this magic touch are confident in their abilities and believe in themselves. They know that they have the skills and talent to achieve their goals, and this self-assuredness is evident in their actions.
But where these comparisons really hold weight is when the latest output of each “main” project is placed side by side – AFI’s The Blood Album and Circa Survive’s The Amulet – and how much the underlying similarities really dictate the quality of each. Both see their creators embracing their more subtle, open-ending affectations for albums that favour slowly unfurling atmosphere over immediacy. And just like The Blood Album, The Amulet stands as an album that’s immaculately crafted but with precious little that sticks after an initial listen.
Both found their most noticeable push through catering to certain zeitgeists Green with the post-hardcore of the mid-2000s, Havok in the post-Misfits world of horror-punk before ultimately focusing their attentions to something more grounded and, for lack of a better term, mature. Even the streams of side projects spawn some similarities, with both embarking upon more niche ventures with ultimately greater stakes of self-expression Green with The Sound Of Animals Fighting and his numerous solo albums, Havok with Blaqk Audio and XTRMST , and even a late-period desire to return to a more straightforward, throwback sound that led to Havok s involvement in Dreamcar earlier this year and Green returning to front Saosin for 2016 s Along The Shadow.
They know that they have the skills and talent to achieve their goals, and this self-assuredness is evident in their actions. They have a positive mindset and are not afraid to take risks. This confidence attracts opportunities and success towards them.
ALBUM REVIEW: ‘The Amulet’ by Circa Survive
When chronicling the potted history of Anthony Green’s musical evolution – finding his first piece of major recognition with Soasin before moving onto The Sound Of Animals Fighting and ultimately Circa Survive – there’s a number of parallels that can be drawn with AFI and Davey Havok. Both found their most noticeable push through catering to certain zeitgeists – Green with the post-hardcore of the mid-2000s, Havok in the post-Misfits world of horror-punk – before ultimately focusing their attentions to something more grounded and, for lack of a better term, mature. Even the streams of side projects spawn some similarities, with both embarking upon more niche ventures with ultimately greater stakes of self-expression (Green with The Sound Of Animals Fighting and his numerous solo albums, Havok with Blaqk Audio and XTRMST), and even a late-period desire to return to a more straightforward, throwback sound that led to Havok’s involvement in Dreamcar earlier this year and Green returning to front Saosin for 2016’s Along The Shadow.
But where these comparisons really hold weight is when the latest output of each “main” project is placed side by side – AFI’s The Blood Album and Circa Survive’s The Amulet – and how much the underlying similarities really dictate the quality of each. Both see their creators embracing their more subtle, open-ending affectations for albums that favour slowly unfurling atmosphere over immediacy. And just like The Blood Album, The Amulet stands as an album that’s immaculately crafted but with precious little that sticks after an initial listen.
That’s made evident from the very first track Lustration, with guitars adopting a lighter, more tactile indie-rock sound and the impressively complex, almost jazz-like drum work. And on its own, that’s all fine, since Circa Survive clearly have the adept musical skill to pull it off. This is very much a musician’s album as well, putting their post-hardcore influences on the back burner to focus fully on a more progressive style. It gives a sense of grandiosity to tracks like Flesh And Bone with plays around with chilly minor chords and pianos for that wintery ballad feel, or the heavier Stay which pitches its instrumentation into more traditional alt-rock territory in the closest that The Amulet comes to reconnecting with its post-hardcore roots. Above all though, this is definitely a straighter album across the board, largely sticking to that delicate progressive indie template and performing it rather well, especially with regards to the vocals. Green may sound distressingly like Kellin Quinn but he’s nowhere near as screechingly obnoxious, and with the sort of control that means he can actually temper his vocals to fit the more serene, equable mood; it’s telling that his attempts at reaching out for screams on Rites Of Investiture and the title track are the only real moments that feel out of place.
But this alone brings up where The Amulet‘s main fault lies, with the fact that Circa Survive place such an emphasis on instrumental proficiency over basically anything else. Green’s tamped-down vocals might match up with the direction the instrumentation goes, but the doesn’t mean this is a user-friendly album, or one that’ll spur on any sort of emotional peak beyond prog fans and guitar-heads rubbing their hands with glee. Just because there’s talent here doesn’t mean that translates into interesting material; a track like Premonition Of The Hex feels so static with its complete lack of dynamics or gear shifts beyond a mid-level plod, and At Night It Gets Worse tries to spread its spidery guitar lines and drum fills over almost six-minutes but ends up feeling remarkably flimsy as a result. And with the frail, glassy quality in Green’s vocals that’s trapped in a distant falsetto for almost the entire album, there’s a lack of motion on all fronts that prevents the genuine qualities of The Amulet from being cashed in.
And after all, it’s easy to see what Circa Survive are going for here, distancing themselves from some of intensity of their previous five albums to open up new areas for number six. But that intensity was gave those albums such drive and vigour; here, this feels like a band stripping away such a defining keystone of their sound and spreading a half-speed effort over an entire album. Admittedly there’s enough instrumental colour here to prevent The Amulet from being outright boring, but even with those generous qualifications, this is okay at best, and Circa Survive have proven time and time again that they’re capable of a lot more.
For fans of: Coheed And Cambria, The Dear Hunter, A Lot Like Birds
Words by Luke Nuttall
‘The Amulet’ by Circa Survive is released on 22nd September on Hopeless Records.
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Another important factor is passion. People with the magic touch are deeply passionate about what they do. They genuinely love their work and are driven by a strong sense of purpose. Their passion fuels their motivation, determination, and dedication towards their goals. This enthusiasm is contagious and inspires others around them. In addition, those who possess the magic touch are not afraid of hard work. They are willing to put in the effort and go the extra mile to achieve excellence. They understand that success does not come overnight and are willing to make sacrifices to reach their desired outcomes. Furthermore, these individuals have a growth mindset. They are always seeking new knowledge and opportunities to learn and grow. They embrace challenges and setbacks as learning experiences rather than failures. This mindset allows them to constantly adapt and improve, leading to continued success. Lastly, people with the magic touch also understand the importance of relationships and collaboration. They value and nurture their connections with others. They know that building and maintaining strong relationships is crucial for growth and success. They are open to working with others, listening to different perspectives, and leveraging the strengths of those around them. In conclusion, the magic touch is not something that is out of reach for anyone. It is a combination of confidence, passion, hard work, a growth mindset, and strong relationships. By cultivating these qualities, anyone can unlock their own version of the magic touch and achieve their desired success. So believe in yourself, follow your passions, work hard, embrace challenges, and build meaningful connections. You never know, you might just discover that you have that magic touch too..
Reviews for "The Power of Connection: Using Your Magic Touch to Connect with Others"
1. Jessica - 2 out of 5 stars
I was really excited to read "You got that magic tutch" based on the reviews and the catchy title, but it turned out to be a major disappointment for me. The story felt predictable and the characters lacked depth. The writing style was overly simplistic and it felt like the author was just ticking off a checklist of popular plot points. Overall, I found it to be a boring and forgettable read.
2. John - 1 out of 5 stars
I can't believe the positive reviews for "You got that magic tutch". This book was painful to get through. The dialogue was cheesy and the plot was nonsensical. The characters were so one-dimensional that I couldn't connect with any of them. The author tried to throw in some unexpected twists, but they just fell flat. I would not recommend wasting your time on this book.
3. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars
I wanted to like "You got that magic tutch" but it felt like a poorly executed copycat of other popular fantasy novels. The world-building was weak and the magic system was never fully explained. The pacing was off, with long stretches of nothing happening followed by rushed and confusing action scenes. The romance subplot felt forced and lacked any real chemistry. Overall, I was underwhelmed by this book and would not recommend it.
4. Michael - 3 out of 5 stars
"You got that magic tutch" had an interesting concept, but it failed to deliver on its potential. The writing was average, with some awkward phrasing and repetitive descriptions. The characters were okay, but I didn't feel invested in their journey. The plot had some intriguing moments, but it was bogged down by unnecessary subplots and a lack of focus. While I didn't hate it, I found this book to be a forgettable read.