Crushed Stars

Convalescing In Braille 

1. Eyeliner
2. Black Umbrellas
3. Sutures
4. Technicolor
5. Spark
6. A Day Without You
7. Frost On Wires
8. Fall
9. Beatrice In The Otherworld
10. Ocean

FRISCO — Coming back from 2008’s Gossamer Days, the highly praised fourth album from Crushed Stars would be a challenge. They were already under pressure to progress and bring something new to the table.

Todd Gautreau, who’s based in Frisco, is the mastermind behind this quiet yet powerful band that has created ripples all over the country. His newest work, Convalescing in Braille (heavy, right?), steps up to the plate with its head held high, ready to prove itself.

Although the style stays right on track with his previous work, Gautreau has managed to maintain attention with his murmured words and cushioned choruses. He has brought back Jeff Ryan’s percussion to support his saturated-yet-simplified group of songs. (It's also a good move because Ryan plays with Sarah Jaffe and Pleasant Grove.) There are only two songs where extra hands were brought on, proving Gautreau's hard work.

Most of the songs flow together, creating a same-minded theme of quieted, yet detailed rock. “Technicolor” and “Frost on Wires” jump out as the new guys, changing up the tempo and accompanied instruments. “Technicolor” distances Gautreau’s voice, as if he is set back from the microphone. The guitar strums are significantly faster and more apparent, helping to lighten the mood and add some cheer. “Frost on Wires” incorporates the piano in a varied sense, by bringing it front and center. If this were a speedier album, “Frost on Wires” would be the ballad. Full of soul and pain, this track shows the rawness with which Gautreau works best.

The only factor missing from this well-composed album is the “99 Red Balloons” cover the band pursued earlier this year. It was a valiant success from Portland, Ore., all the way to our home station 91.7 KXT. Crushed Star’s website offers a free copy of it if you pre-order the album, but it would have fit nicely on the album. Author

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