July For Kings walk a tightrope. The songs on Monochrome are at once intimate vignettes of mid-western American life and arena rock singalong anthems. Hedges' lyrics balance angst with introspection; sadness with positivity. Monochrome balances expansive, lush soundscapes with stripped down acoustic guitars; youthful yearning with mature introspection; and rough-at-the-edges grunge rock with perfectly resolving pop melodies. This is an experienced band in their prime.
