Some time ago, a relatively unknown band called The Myriad released an album entitled You Can't Trust a Ladder. Three years later, the group is back, although no longer unknown by any means, thanks for MTV2's "Dew Circuit Breakout." After a very nice digital EP release, The Myriad's new album, With Arrows, With Poise, delivers a sound much different than their first record. From the beginning notes of the first song, it is clear the listeners are in for a surprise-- the fairly unoriginal feel of their first album has not quite disappeared, but rather evolved into an experimental indie rock form.

The first cut, "Grandfather Clock," dramatically proves that The Myriad are no longer unoriginal; now, listeners may have trouble finding other bands similar to them. Some of the closest musical reference points include Lovedrug, Cold Play, Mute Math, and Brave Citizens, but none of those artists really have the combination of styles that The Myriad offers. Among the varied list of elements in With Arrows, With Poise are electronic components, ambient piano, and crunchy guitars. However, there is no single formula for the album. Songs like "The Accident," "A Thousand Winters Melting," and "Polar Bears and Shark Fins" showcase the individuality of each track. The iTunes version of the record even includes a wonderfully edgy cover of Blondie's "Call Me" as a bonus.

The few downsides of the album seem to depend on the listener's own tastes. Lead vocalist Jeremy Edwardson's voice stays inside a finely tuned comfort zone throughout the album, never really changing in any particular song. Lyrically, With Arrows is sketchy at best-- vague spiritual references pop up every now and then, but a very select amount of content is understandable. The record seems to have a concept-album feel, but unlike other projects of its kind (Mae's The Everglow, Showbread's Anorexia/Nervosa, etc), the concept is rather unclear to the listener.

Undoubtedly, the best thing about With Arrows, With Poise, is the fact that each song is a work of art in itself. Every track on the album is worth your time; every second of listening is a truly unique experience. Plus, since there are so many different genres inside of it, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

The Myriad has come a long way in three years, and their mainstream success proves it. Recently, the band has gotten quite a bit of time on MTV, and the song "A Clean Shot" was immortalized by being included on the new video game RockBand. After With Arrows, With Poise, it's clear that no one will be forgetting The Myriad soon - if ever. From this point on, they most assuredly will have a long and exciting career ahead of them.

- Review date: 7/22/08, written by Garrett DeRossett of Jesusfreakhideout.com