Words to Say

AMG Review of Words to Say

Nitsuh Abebe
All Music Guide

Shirk Circus holds an unfortunate fascination with '70s power pop that occasionally drags Words to Say down; the songs on the album have the simplistic rock charm of a poppier Material Issue, but the band takes frequent turns into overblown riffage that tend to be unattractive. When the album is at its best, it has the same power pop charm of the Chapel Hill indie scene, but these moments are lamentably rare -- the majority of Words to Say is decently appealing, yes, but enough barroom cliches seep in to turn things slightly sour.