Toledo, OH rock powerhouse, Citizen recently announced their highly anticipated new album, Halcyon Blues, and now they’re back to share its moving title track. Arriving August 7th via Run For Cover Records, Halcyon Blues is a dynamic, confident release that draws on nearly two decades of musical and personal growth to emphatically declare what their dedicated fans already know: Citizen are one of our great modern rock bands—and they’re at the absolute top of their game.
“Halcyon Blues” follows lead single “Highs and Lows,” which drew immediate acclaim from fans and critics alike. Where “Highs and Lows” offered a big dose of the bold alternative rock that Citizen excel at, “Halcyon Blues” leans into the more lush side of the band. It’s a cut of emotive indie that gently unfolds from plaintive verses into an expansive chorus that showcases just how wide-reaching Citizen’s songwriting has become.
Vocalist Mat Kerekes shed some light on the song’s lyrics, saying, “It’s about a silent disconnect between two people. You both know you’re no longer meant to be in each other’s lives but instead of accepting it, you sit in the space between and watch one another become strangers in real time.”
Citizen have always been determined to follow their own path, taking creative risks and challenging expectations at every turn. Seventeen years into an impressive career, the band still feels like underdogs who have never quite fit in. Their unlikely rise from a group of Toledo high schoolers to long-running headliners was achieved through persistent sonic evolution. Now, Halcyon Blues combines elements from throughout their entire catalog into a singular and satisfying record.
Recorded by Kerekes and mixed by Tom Lorde-Alge, the album taps into the urgency of the band’s early work while embracing the epic scope of their recent output. “We don’t think in moments, or months, or record cycles,” says guitarist Nick Hamm. “I see Citizen as this long-term creative project where there’s always somewhere new to go.”
The band has also announced a massive run of worldwide tour dates in support of the release, spanning North America, the UK, Europe, and Australia. For a full list of upcoming performances, visit the band’s official website.