The Storms of Early Summer: Semantics of Song

Released in 1998 on Saddle Creek Records, The Storms of Early Summer: Semantics of Song is the second full-length from Cursive and a pivotal document of the Midwestern emo movement. Recorded by AJ Mogis, the album showcases a significant leap in complexity from their debut, 'Such Blinding Stars for Starving Eyes.' It is structurally divided into two halves - the first focusing on the 'semantics' of songwriting and the second on a loose narrative of a relationship's seasonal decay. While this album predates the inclusion of Gretta Cohn's signature cello, the guitar work of Steve Pedersen and Tim Kasher establishes the 'angular' sound that would become the band's hallmark. Critics often cite this as the record where Cursive found their voice, blending the aggression of post-hardcore with the intellectual curiosity of art rock. It stands as a bridge between the raw emo of the mid-90s and the theatrical concept albums the band would later produce.