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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Listener
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Listener
Being Empty: Being Filled

Album length: 10 tracks: 49 minutes, 51 seconds
Style: Indie Rock / Talk Music
Street Date: February 2, 2018
Buy It: iTunes
Buy It: AmazonMP3
Buy It: Bandcamp


Listener began as a hip hop project by Dan Smith back in the early 2000s that has evolved over time into a fully-fledged post-hardcore band. The last time I was exposed to their music was back in 2010 on the spoken word album - a 'la Bradley Hathaway - Wooden Heart, which consisted of Smith on vocals and trumpet, Kristen Smith on bass guitar, and Chris Nelson on drums. The album, at the time, seemed a little directionless, as there was no full-on cohesiveness to the tracks. My expectations were obviously not remarkably high as I went into their latest record, Being Empty: Being Filled. But I am happy to report I was pleasantly surprised by what they were able to do as a full-on band.

Being Empty: Being Filled is constructed as a concept album of sorts, telling the stories of inventors ranging from the likes of Nikola Tesla to parents. It was into this world I stepped having always known that Smith was a witty lyricist, and no one could deny the passion in his vocal delivery. But it was the opening riff of "Pent Up Genes" (itself an ode to Levi Strauss) that shocked me. I caught myself doing three or four takes to make sure it was Listener I was listening to and not other post-hardcore acts like La Dispute or mewithoutYou. The overall sonic quality of the album was surprisingly full compared to my previous exposure to them, and dynamic and experimental enough to hold my attention for the full length of the album.

The music helps add dynamic stability to the themes of struggle and success present in each story. Victorious trumpet serenades the triumph of Levi Strauss' work ethic, while forlorn notes layer the story of Rudolph Diesel, who lost his family during his greatest success due to his abandonment of them. "Plague Doctor" ends with screeching feedback that lends itself to a sense of foreboding and doom. When we hear Robert Oppenheimer's immortal line ("I am become death, the destroyer of worlds") on "Manhattan Projects," the melody is light, but quickly morphs into chugging guitar that seems to mimic the sound of bombs falling from the sky. The layers of emotion and intensity overlap and seem to be cohesive in building the setting/backdrop to the presented stories.

Smith's vocals took more of a back seat this time out, but he still finds a way to be compelling. Critical factors that help us identify with music are energy, emotion, and dynamic delivery. There has never been any denying that Smith possesses all three in spades and it was great to hear as he bellowed and screamed cryptic lines with, not condemnation, but enough aggression to make someone sit up and take notice. With lines like "her loose teeth moving like piano keys, getting played from lost memories," the stories told need to be followed closely to be able to genuinely appreciate what is being said, and this has always been my biggest issue with bands that occupy this space. Often, they limit their appeal by overcomplicating what they are trying to say, whether it be with words too cryptic or words that you need a dictionary to fully understand. This is not necessarily a critique as in something I would like them to change, as I find music and lyrical content such as present here to be fascinating and it adds to the overall experience. I just recognize that many people, in the modern three-minute radio music format, would and could potentially become frustrated while trying to understand the stories being played out.

Being Empty: Being Filled is admittedly not for everyone, and going into it my expectations were extremely low. I am, however, glad I gave it a chance. Not only did I find an album that fits into my current wheelhouse, but I also have been motivated by the stories to do some research on the presented interviews to get their stories fleshed out - being a history buff, I count that as a win. Give it a listen; you may hate it, but you walk away with the undeniableness of Listener's passion and their musical experimentation. It is a great ride for anyone that likes the aforementioned La Dispute and mewithoutYou.

- Review date: 7/31/22, written by Matt Baldwin for Jesusfreakhideout.com



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. Record Label: None
. Album length: 10 tracks: 49 minutes, 51 seconds
. Street Date: February 2, 2018
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: AmazonMP3
. Buy It: Bandcamp

  1. Pent Up Genes (4:53)
  2. Little Folded Fingers (5:06)
  3. There's Money in the Walls (5:42)
  4. Add Blue (4:26)
  5. Bloodshot / New Love (4:07)
  6. Shock and Value (4:30)
  7. Window to the World (4:53)
  8. A Love Letter To Detroit (5:25)
  9. Manhattan Projects (4:24)
  10. Plague Doctor (6:20)

 

 

 

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This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Empowered SALT - EP (independent)
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Joe L Barnes Good Shepherd (Studio Version) - Single [Provident]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS Trust and Obey (feat. CAIN) - Single [Provident]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Maher Wait (Radio Version) - Single [Provident]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Rave Jesus Runnin' - Single [Provident]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
Michael W. Smith Your Love Is A Flood - Single [The Fuel]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



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