Citizen Show Off Maturity And Great Songwriting With ‘Halcyon Blues’

The emo legends in Citizen have returned with their latest record, ‘Halcyon Blues’. This marks their first release since 2023’s ‘Calling the Dogs’. This album once again finds this band doing what they do best, and continuing to grow and expand upon their sound. It’s something bands in the genre can learn a thing or two from on how to age gracefully in the songs you put out.

I can’t stress enough just how unique of a band Citizen feels in their genre, and this record is a prime example of that. They deliver some modern classics to start the album such as “Good Fortune” and “I Can See You From Here” that feel like the band really underlining on what they do best and have been for over a decade. “Highs and Lows” is also a track that feels experimental, but full of passion and energy. You also have tracks such as “Matador” and “Smooth Talker” that also feel more on the experimental side, more of a hard rock type of vibe that the band pulls off seamlessly. And having the more chill tracks like the title track and the album closer “Anne” feels right at home on a record like this one. There’s just such variety on this album and the band showcase all their different sides to deliver something really solid.

Vocalist Mat Kerekes has such an iconic voice within the genre, and his vocal delivery is unlike no other. His delivery feels smooth and energy-driven, and that is shown in spades throughout this record. I do also love how prominent the guitar and bass are throughout this album from both Nick and Eric Hamm. Their parts feel like such a key part of the band and it carries through every one of these songs. The band just knows how to really pull from different elements and go the weirder routes to make these songs feel unique and thought out. Drummer Ben Russin also really knows when to go hard on the drums at times, and be more reserved whenever the song calls for it. It’s a delicate balance to have, but he pulls it off just like the band does as a unit.

All in all, I think ‘Halcyon Blues’ feels like such a solid record from one of the best to ever do it. Citizen show exactly why they’re one of the more prominent and important bands not only in the genre, but the scene as a whole. They feel like the gold standard on how to mature as a band, in all the right ways.