The Twilight Sad: Forget The Night Ahead (2LP, 15th anniversary edition) [FATCAT]

Why you'll love it

This 15th anniversary edition spreads the album across a 2LP set from FatCat. Mojo gave it four stars, and the A.V. Club praised a band capable of muscling up without losing its fascination with fragile, fleeting moments.

This edition

• 2LP set
• 15th anniversary edition

About the album

Plenty of bands write their second album on the tour bus. The Twilight Sad made a point of staying home in Scotland to write, then decamped to Chem19 Studios in Hamilton with Paul Savage, occasionally getting snowed in, to make something darker, broader and much, much louder than their debut.

Andy MacFarlane produced and wrote the music, running vocals, piano and Martin Doherty's "noise strings" through a half-working Roland Space Echo for a woozy, krautrock-tinged wobble, while James Graham's broad Scottish accent sits right at the front. "Reflection of the Television" crashes in, "Seven Years of Letters" and "The Room" (with Laura McFarlane's violin) became singles, and "Made to Disappear" holds the line that gave the album its name. "That Birthday Present," "The Neighbors Can't Breathe" and "At the Burnside" carry the swirling, tidal ending.

Graham wrote the lyrics in a two-month burst after losing a close family member, and the songs carry that weight with real grace. The band blew up three bass amp heads chasing the drum and guitar sound, which we mention so you know exactly how far to turn it up.

Also at Kops: more The Twilight Sad on vinyl · browse Alternative

Tracklist

Listen

On FatCat (cat# FATLP-77X), a reissue of the 2009 album.