Citizen “Halcyon Blues” Album Review
Seventeen years into their career, Northwest Ohio rockers Citizen return with their sixth studio album, Halcyon Blues. A band that has never truly stayed in one box regarding genre, Citizen commits on Halcyon Blues to a slightly more stripped back sound than on some of their earlier records, but it still packs the same punch they created all the way back in 2013 with their debut album, Youth.
Citizen makes it obvious right away that they haven’t lost a step in their more than 15 year tenure, beginning with the massive sounding "Good Fortune." The first sound we hear on the album is drummer Ben Russin, former drummer for Title Fight, snare rolling into a song that perfectly juxtaposes a fast drum beat and driving bass line with softer synth and guitar parts. This contrast becomes a recurring theme throughout the remainder of the record.
The second track on the album, "I Can See You From Here," subverts the structural expectations set by "Good Fortune." Unlike the opener, this song feels like an exercise in patience for the listener. The breakdown that feels like it is building up never arrives; instead, the song gracefully falls into an airy, almost ambient soundscape by the end. This track demonstrates that while Citizen can be at their hard and fast best, as seen on "Good Fortune," the album also dives into a slower, more introspective sound.
The third track, "Halcyon Blues," puts a bright spotlight on the vocals of frontman Mat Kerekes. The instrumentation on this track is noticeably stripped back from the usual "wall of sound" style heard throughout Citizen’s discography. This choice directs listeners to pay special attention to the vocal layering, which works alongside the gentle guitar riff of the first verse to create an atmosphere that is both relaxing and exciting.
"Is It In My Brain" goes down an indie lane reminiscent of The Strokes. The drums sound as though they are played on a drum pad, creating a unique, punchy tone not yet heard on the album. The simple two chord progression is kept interesting by a soaring, distant lead guitar track and an arpeggiated synth pattern that rounds out the sound beautifully.
"Always the Last One to Leave" is a fascinating midpoint on the album. The track begins with a sharp synth note and features only a piano and acoustic guitar during the verses. This bare instrumentation lays the groundwork for some of the most emotional lyrics on the whole record, with personal standouts including “Tarot card says / I’m done for good” and “Quiet battles I thought I won.” The final chorus introduces a gorgeously lush string section, creating a churchlike, orchestral atmosphere. This song is a major highlight on the album for me and genuinely had me tearing up.
Track 6, titled "Either Way," features some of the most intriguing instrumentation on the album. The opening riff has a country feel that works incredibly well. The album's tendency to lean toward small, single drum fill buildups persists on this track, furthering Citizen’s exploration of an open, lush sound. Another unique aspect of this song is the ending, where the instrumentation fully deteriorates into an electronic ambient section before segueing into the dark, drum pad intro on "Matador."
I know I have described previous songs on this album as intriguing and fascinating, but none are more so than "Matador." "Matador" dives into a dark, electronic world where distorted 808s take the place of a standard bass. The verse feels more traditional with instrumentation heard throughout the record, before suddenly exploding back into the grimy, dirty feel provided by the introduction. For an album that has felt subdued at certain points, "Matador" is sure to shock any listener back into the rest of this record whether they like it or not.
"Ether" takes us back to the sound we are used to from Citizen, especially on this album. A slower, more stripped back verse gives way to a louder chorus. One element to highlight throughout the record is the power of Russin’s drums. Even during the quieter sections where the guitars drop back, the drums never stop driving the song forward, which is vital for an album featuring several slower sections while still maintaining a heavy feel.
"Smooth Talker" immediately hits with the coolest bassline on the album by a mile. Eric Hamm’s bass tone on this project is the perfect complement to Russin’s drums, providing a snarling, deep growl to the low end that remains exciting throughout. The emphasis on the bass is fantastic, giving the track a punch that makes it stick out as a personal highlight. Kerekes also leans into a harsher vocal tone on this track, beautifully matching the energy of the bassline.
The electronic bass returns for the penultimate track on the album, looping a single note into a verse that leads the listener to expect a softer direction, until Kerekes returns to his gravelly vocals from "Smooth Talker," creating the best kind of whiplash. A real strong point of this album is the unpredictability created through its tracklist sequencing: two or three songs will share a similar feel, leading the listener to expect a single direction, only for the next song to subvert that expectation entirely. Other bands have attempted this and failed in various ways, but Citizen absolutely nails it here.
"Anne," the final track of the album, perfectly sums up the best parts of Halcyon Blues. The song features a range of different tones and instrumentation, taking its time to build a feeling of finality. As the song fades into silence, there is nothing left to be desired: everything Citizen set out to do with this record, they knocked out of the park.
Halcyon Blues is an album where every song sounds unique, yet they blend together beautifully to create a cohesive body of work. While some songs stand out more than others, this album is best enjoyed listened to front to back, and loud.
Citizen is touring Australia in 2027 with special guests Drug Church. Tickets are on sale now.
Destroy All Lines Presents
CITIZEN (US)
Halcyon Blues Australian Tour 2027
with very special guests DRUG CHURCH (US)
Friday 26 February - The Tivoli, Brisbane Lic AA
Saturday 27 February - Liberty Hall, Sydney Lic AA
Sunday 28 February - Forum, Melbourne 18+
Wednesday 3 March - The Gov, Adelaide Lic AA
Thursday 4 March - Magnet House, Perth 18+
Tickets on sale now via Destroy All Lines