From the beginning to the end, Given has a great vocal showing by Chris McF, warm guitars, and an emotional landscape that's at once engaging and challenging. It's hard to pick and choose, for me, and as well, I'm biased. Even the songs tinged almost with a country flavor, which goes against my grain, go down very well! Get it!!!

Given marks an amazing change in direction for Austin based Chris McFarland, gone are the majority of the verse, chorus, verse indie-pop anthems that have put Chris on the forefront of the next wave of independent musicians; instead Given sees Chris exploring new melodies, exciting time changes, and extremely complicated song writing. Right out of the gate with "Broken Laughter" the song challenges the listener to get the harrowing melodies out of their head when the song climaxes in one of the most intense moments in recent music history. This only starts the album, it grows from there. "Headstones and Names" is so subtly powerful that it almost forces you to stop what you are doing and stare at the speakers, letting the song take you on a journey through Chris' unique voice. And when you think the car is about to pull over he keeps you in the driver seat with "Wavering," a beautiful acoustic rocker. Chris brings us back to a time when albums did not have filler; every track of the lp is a wonderful treat. Its quiet moments are like walking through a deserted forest at night, and its loud moments will shake pictures off the walls. When listening to Given be prepared to experience everything from extreme melancholy to ecstatic joy, as if the sun was beaming down onto your face. The album closer "In sequences" is a stand out among giants. Its mood is like lying in the grass watching the wind rustle through the trees, introspective and daunting, and it closes what maybe the first truly inspirational album of the year.

Emotional, acoustic-centered rock that bends melodies a la Bono (U2), Michael Stipe (R.E.M.), and Adam Duritz (Counting Crows), the album is a rich, rocking folk-infused record that can be as lush as emo. But it can also stripped down to the bare essentials, giving it an organic, almost raw sound which helps pave the way to the more elaborate, instrumentation-filled rock leanings of the record. Combined with the emotive male voice, the scales are tipped as this ragged, jagged record roars through pain and triumphant with nary a whimper.

This album has all the right elements that keep you wanting to listen again and again. I have seen this guy in LA a few times and am never dissapointed. Highly recommended both on record and live.