Everything Touches Everything is an exceedingly upbeat
record. The tracks are bright and lush, the compositions are major-key
and the lyrics are unself-consciously positive. Even breakup songs are
exuberant for these These United States, who penned the album in the
glow of the 2008 presidential election. “I Want You to Keep Everything”
opens Everything disarmingly with its brisk beat and soaring
guitar lead-in. It’s not until about halfway through the song that you
realize it’s about the end of a relationship. Gushing romanticism,
gaily plinking piano and “whoa” choruses define the title track, which
earnestly quotes Rainer Maria Rilke: “It is breathtaking/Just to be
here.” Meanwhile, “Conquest and Consequence” shuffles through an
indie-pop take on a honky-tonk rambler, with twangy guitars, shimmering
pedal-steel highlights and a cryptic tale of truth, deception and the
difficulties to be found in each. “Good Bones” is an overt political
metaphor, with a pretty face standing in for the potential of the
American spirit, its southern-fried power-pop ringing like an anthem.
“Good Night Wish” closes the album with nearly eight minutes of the
band extending its well-wishing to the whole world. — Nicholas Hall
This article appears in Sep 2-8, 2009.
