B-Side Guys

There’s a fine line between polish and artifice, between refining one’s sound and sanding away the rough edges that give it character and life. On their sophomore album, “Beautiful Come Undone,” West Chester, PA rock band Fall Awake navigates this line with deft skill and unwavering commitment to their own artistic vision.

Released on May 10, 2024, “Beautiful Come Undone” is a testament to the power of raw, urgent rock music. Recorded by Mike Bardzik at Noisy Little Critter studio in the Philadelphia suburbs, the album’s 11 tracks crackle with an energy and immediacy that feels refreshingly unvarnished in an era of overproduced, focus-grouped rock.

As Fall Awake themselves put it in a message accompanying the album’s release, “Beautiful Come Undone” is “truly a monument of our dedication to creating something fresh… something that honors our individual influences, but collectively captures what happens every time we get together.” The band made a conscious decision to eschew overthinking in favor of spontaneity and intuition, showing up to the studio with a wealth of ideas and walking away with a record that, in their words, “rips hard, goes deep when [it] needs to, but ultimately personifies who we are as a band.”

This commitment to authenticity and in-the-moment creativity is evident from the opening track, “Softly,” to the closing notes of “Good to be You.” Throughout the album, Fall Awake strikes a balance between high-energy rock and roll and more introspective, emotionally resonant moments. The result is a record that feels both cohesive and dynamic, a collection of songs that showcase the band’s range and versatility without ever losing sight of their core identity.

Thematically, “Beautiful Come Undone” grapples with the idea of perfection unraveling, of finding beauty and meaning in the chaos and confusion of life. It’s a concept that feels particularly resonant in a world that often feels like it’s teetering on the brink of collapse, where the illusions of stability and control are constantly being shattered by the unpredictable currents of change.

Fall Awake approaches this theme with a combination of urgency and nuance, crafting songs that feel both deeply personal and universally relatable. Tracks like “Funeral for the Sun” and “Otherside of Down” grapple with weighty themes of loss and existential searching, while “Sugar Sour” and “Every Dog Bites” offer more visceral, punk-inflected takes on the album’s central motifs.

Musically, “Beautiful Come Undone” is a showcase for Fall Awake’s impressive chops and undeniable chemistry. Frontman Austin Gray’s vocals are a particular standout, effortlessly shifting from raw, impassioned screams to more delicate, introspective passages. Guitarist Gavin DuBree and bassist Ed Skiles provide a rock-solid foundation for the band’s sonic explorations, while drummer Eric Skiles brings a propulsive, almost punk-like energy to the proceedings.

The result is an album that feels both timeless and urgently of-the-moment, a collection of songs that could have been released at any point in the last three decades of rock music history, but that also feels utterly vital and necessary in the present tense. It’s a testament to Fall Awake’s skills as musicians and songwriters, and to their unwavering commitment to their own artistic vision.

Of course, “Beautiful Come Undone” is not a perfect album – but then again, that’s kind of the point. In embracing the imperfections and rough edges of their sound, Fall Awake has created a record that feels all the more honest and authentic for its flaws. It’s an approach that stands in stark contrast to the polished, sanitized rock music that often dominates the airwaves, and it’s all the more refreshing for it.

Ultimately, “Beautiful Come Undone” is a triumph of rock and roll in its purest, most unvarnished form. It’s an album that dares us to embrace the chaos and confusion of life, to find beauty and meaning in the cracks and fissures of our own imperfect existence. And in a world that often feels like it’s coming undone at the seams, that’s a message that feels more necessary and vital than ever.

As Fall Awake themselves put it, “Beautiful Come Undone” is an album that demands to be listened to “loud” and “through.” It’s a record that rewards deep, focused engagement, that reveals new layers of meaning and emotion with each successive listen. And for those who are willing to take the plunge, to immerse themselves fully in the world that Fall Awake has created, the rewards are immeasurable.