This Is Gonna Be A Banner Year

Circlesquare “Stop Taking (So Many)”

“Stop Taking (So Many)” is essentially an epic song on a miniature scale. The grandiose sentimentality of “meaningful-core” acts such as Arcade Fire and U2 present, but muted to the point that the bombast disappears, and the implied “we” in the music shrinks down to a more manageable and intimate “you and I.” This is manifested in the vocals, which are rather cool and sedate, but more so in the music, which turns the trappings of arena rock balladry inside out: The beat is rendered as minimally as possible; a handful of understated, plaintive piano notes carry much of the emotional weight; and the strum and noise of guitars is replaced with abstract electronic hums, whirs, and beeps.

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