The loneliest place I've ever been feels like a burst of therapeutic sunshine for the emotionally scarred. For a band that bleeds painful and addictive melodies, there is a feeling of being made whole that has been building over the past few releases. 10 songs and 34 minutes later, there is an inescapable message…the journey towards self actualization has ended in splendid isolation.

Have Mercy has leaned into what makes them great. Pain wrapped in optimistic sound. While the topics of heartbreak, death, and insecurity aren’t new for this affected group, there is an oxymoronic obvious, yet subtle freshness in this release that is immediately cup filling. The opening track only if, only demands that you smile at perceived failure. “You’re crawling back to me” is the type of hook that brightens everything around it. The production is perfectly enormous and the surprising appearance of a tiny xylophone will make you feel ticklish.

For a band that historically front loads their catchiest tracks, this record just keeps going. It’s obvious why August 17 and TV glows were chosen as the first two singles prior to the release. These songs instantly attach to the listener and can be played on repeat without diminished enjoyment. They remind you why this genre can be inescapable to those that crave the salty with the sweet. Comparing them to Jimmy Eat World is both on point and unfair as there is a distinct uniqueness to Have Mercy that is exemplified in the droplets that preceded the cleansing storm of the album release.

But like any great album drop, they saved the best for the main course. “Little pieces” is the centerpiece of this album. “You fucked me up, you broke me down into the little pieces I've just found” are the most beautiful last words to a muse that never deserved as much as a single letter. It feels like a promise to himself that he will finally stop hurting and wasting energy on the unobtainable. It’s cathartic, honest, and a necessary punctuation mark that allows him to finally be present. As a long time fan of this band, I finally have closure from a toxic relationship that they made me feel part of for many many years.

The irony of “old selfish me” is haunting in the best of ways. Self awareness and selflessness emanate from this necessary slow ballad that explodes at the perfect moment, mid-plea for companionship in the dark. The back end of the record is a simple demonstration that Brian has never felt more comfortable in his own skin. The front man of this special band can feel his growth and depth in everything he touches these days. The courageous addition of the piano on multiple tracks and the obvious leveling up in the production of these 10 tracks (for a band that never struggled with the finishing touches) evokes an image of a circle finally finished after being drawn for decades.

I dare you to find a weak spot on the loneliest place I've ever been. It is the perfect end of summer release and leaves you wanting more. This album is a gift to the emo kid that never wanted to grow up and all I can say is thank you. - Eric Ottenheimer, ReleaseWave.com Contributor