No More Stories Are Told Today I'm Sorry They Washed Away No More Stories the World Is Grey I'm Tired Let's Wash Away (Bonus Track Version)

As with any Mew recording, the true magic contained inside their fifth studio album begins to unravel and captivate you upon repeated listens. But after the first play, the genius here is clearly evident. The intricate elegance of No More Stories Are Told Today… begins with “New Terrain,” a psychedelic orchestra of soundscapes and sonic textures that yields another song named “Nervous” if you play it backwards. (Mew leaves it to your own devices as to figure out how to do this). Not since the Stone Roses recordings from the early ‘90s has a band offered two songs in one by playing it in reverse. The summery “Beach” is a romantic tune that sounds like Josh Rouse collaborating with Air, and the danceable “Tricks of the Trade” recalls the kind of ‘80s electropop that accompanied clove-smoking club girls decked out in black and white. “Sometimes Life Isn’t Easy” is an otherworldly epic replete with a children’s choir and a sonic expanse big enough for stadiums. Fans of the band’s prog side will feel at home with the bookending “Reprise,” a tune worthy of listening to while wearing a cape.