The Things We Think We're Missing
The Things We Think We're Missing surrounds its melodies with a thick layer of guitar. Balance and Composure mix the directness of emo with slower alternative rock, leaving Jon Simmons' voice inside the sound rather than far above it. The result is heavy and inviting, although the same dense mood can make parts of the album difficult to separate.
Parachutes is a forceful introduction. Guitar and drums arrive with urgency, and Simmons pushes his voice into a rougher register. Lost Your Name slows the pace without greatly reducing the weight. The opening establishes the main appeal of the record: simple emotional lines carried by a large, unsettled sound.
Back of Your Head uses contrast more effectively. Its quieter passages give the sudden vocal and guitar outbursts a clearer purpose. The surrounding haze does not remove the shape of the song. Tiny Raindrop takes a more direct melodic route, with a chorus that remains easy to follow through the distortion. These are useful reminders that atmosphere works best when there is a strong song beneath it.
Reflection is another highlight. Its softer early setting makes the arrival of the larger riff feel more substantial. Simmons' voice remains part of the arrangement, adding a rough melodic line rather than simply competing for volume. The band can make a familiar sound feel persuasive when the different levels of intensity are this well placed.
Not everything has the same impact. Keepsake wanders without finding such a clear destination, while several other songs rely on a similar middle pace and broad guitar texture. The polished production also softens some of the rawness that might have given the performances more bite. At times, the voice seems less involved than the emotional weight of the music calls for.
Even with those reservations, this is an appealing meeting point between vulnerable singing and heavy alternative rock. The best hooks survive the crowded sound, and the strongest shifts in volume give the mood a physical presence. A shorter, more varied sequence would have made the album sharper. As it stands, The Things We Think We're Missing has enough good songs to make its uneven stretches worth working through.
