The Weight Of Your Love is the fourth studio album release from British alternative rock band Editors. The disc takes you on a journey of the evolution and decay of romance with poetic lyrics, but it lacks the energetic keyboard-driven melodies of the group’s earlier releases.
The Weight Of Your Love opens with “The Weight,” a track with a haunting introduction and cool vocals, vaguely reminiscent of the style of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis. Things keep moving with “Sugar,” as vocalist Tom Smith paints a picture of a heartbreaking love, backed by entrancing guitar riffs that seek to be sitars on this Eastern-influenced number. “A Ton Of Love,” the first single released from the album, is the best song by far. It harkens back to Editors’ post-punk roots with moving basslines, raw vocals and an exotic flair. Think Echo & The Bunnymen circa 1985.
After this, though, things cool down a little. The album awkwardly transitions into an orchestral ballad with seemingly forced vocals. Nevertheless, the lyrics remain beautifully descriptive throughout the song as well as the rest of the album, touching on themes of honesty and the harsh realities of the world. Tom Smith’s openness and vulnerability is admirable, but Editors’ stripped down instrumentation borders on boring. The Weight Of Your Love lacks the darkly electronic vibrancy of previous singles like “Papillon” and “Blood.”
Despite its muddled middle, the album redeems itself with the last two tracks. “The Phone Book” is particularly catchy; its solid acoustic guitar lines and a bit of twang encourages you to snap your fingers along with the beat. Finishing things off strong is “Bird Of Prey,” a melodic track with drumbeats that cut through to the surface accompanied by the same rich sounds heard at the start of the album.
In A Word: Deep
