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I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness

According to Plan

(Secretly Canadian)

US release date: 11 July 2006
UK release date: 10 July 2006

by Michael Metivier

So you’ve chosen darkness, huh?  How’s that working out for you? Dismissing my effervescence and plucky modern rock touchstones for the moon-soaked gothic pop of the dreaded ‘80s? Oh.  Yes, I can see darkness is working for you.  You’re right, you’re right.  No, the throbbing bassline of your title track is kinda sexy.  The darkness is addictive; I can’t really blame you for that.  Angular chops and those wet, wet drums, just like Malkmus warned me about. “In a perfect world, in the perfect places with you”, you sing, your words hanging just out of reach, like Tantalus’s grapes.  You sound hopeful, but the chords don’t make it seem very likely that we’ll get there.  Again, the darkness! So true!  “Close to Here” and “Better Strangers” are even more downbeat, crystalline guitars getting tangled up in purple synths, moody basslines, and breathy, mascara-streaked vocals.  I think now you’ve chosen darkness with good reason.  Take care now.

— 8 September 2006

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