25 Records of Christmas, Day 20: Paper Route

Some people would say that waiting three years between records is typical, while others will say it’s much too long. Some artists can lose fans without putting out music in a timely manner. Personally, if the artist is worth it, you’ll remember them and be willing to wait. Paper Route has been working on their newest release for about that long, and I was really excited to see where the band would go after their fantastic debut, Absence. I wondered if the long time period between their debut and this new album would have changed everything they stood for back in 2009.

The Peace of Wild Things builds heavily on what made the band popular during their debut. I’ve heard some people compare the group to Mute Math, but I can’t go that far. Paper Route, and particularly The Peace... is very structure-driven, almost to a point where you can tell where they’ll go next as each track plays. The beauty of Absence was that each song was no where near the same as the last one. The difference here is that Paper Route has solidified the sound from that chaos and intricately pieced it together to form a new one. "Rabbit Holes" has much of that frenetic electronic sound to it, and odd tempo features, which is the closest track to something from Absence. But that isn't a bad thing.

Paper Route is a three-piece band from Nashville, TN.

Electronic-infused rock abounds, and the catchy single “You and I” features an 80s synth pop feel, right before the chorus hits with a bit of dubstep element. “Glass Heart Hymn” has a techno club feel to it, but places in you a sense of euphoria as the bass pumps through your ears (definitely a song to listen with headphones). Vocalist J.T. Daly’s soaring vocals compliment the children’s choir in the background, making for an unforgettable moment on the record. Inevitably, tracks like pop-friendly “Better Life” will undoubtedly garner comparisons to OneRepublic, but for good reason. The piano-laden sentimental ballad “Sugar” features some beautiful strings and synths, leading up to a catchy chorus, perfect for live shows. 

“Letting You Let Go” is a definite staple on The Peace..., easily a fan favorite with a heavy emphasis on percussion and ambient electronics littering the background. It turns out that three years gave Paper Route plenty of time to explore themselves and come out with an even better record than Absence. While much of the first record is loved by fans, they’ll be able to find plenty to enjoy on this second album.