actually, no. let's do this. i used to do this, years ago, and it will be posted here in time - let's survey cursive, from the start to the end, and put it in context...

and, let's survey mewithoutyou after, too.

when i did this for thursday, after being surprised by the turn they took on what i think ended up being their last record, i concluded that they really did suck all along. when i did it for the trail of the dead, i decided they were actually getting better, but hadn't yet released a substantive record yet. then, i didn't pay attention, after all. that was like 2011 or 2012.

i'll be clear with my views on cursive before i start: i think they're alright, but just alright. but, i think they could be great. i'd give them a string of C+s, kind of thing - i may pull out a B, in the end. as i haven't heard that potentially awesome record, i never got into them, i've just been passively listening a few times and moving away for years. it's time to backtrack and put it in context.

so, we'll start with the first record and move forwards on it.