What shall we make of the world? In many ways, the track "New Fragility" perfectly sums up our collective state of uneasiness and fear, but it's particularly well suited to singer-songwriter Alec Ounsworth / Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and a trauma that haunted him for three years . On the title track, "New Fragility," Ounsworth asks the questions that haunt us all. Depression, divorce, aging and confronting the past are swept together, as is the early years of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and the pernicious influence of fame. And with such heartfelt lyrics coupled with his unique, eclectic music and distinctive voice, it's another classic entry into the career of one of independent music's brightest and most enduring artists. "New Fragility" is a successful, moving and powerful album. Leading singles from New Fragility, the double A-sides of Hesitating Nation and Thousand Oaks, are deeply political and depict a nation's decline. On the former, over softly plucked guitars and static chords, Ounsworth denounces state-sponsored pollution and the ubiquity of advertising, and laments our always-on, always-rushing culture. "Thousand Oaks" was written in response to the deadly mass shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California on March 7, 2007. Nov 2018 The building chorus and Ounsworth's guitar provide a stark contrast to the lines, which ooze with rage and fury. However, "New Fragility" is not without moments of beauty. For example, "Innocent Weight" - the first time Ounsworth uses a string quartet - is a fragile, plaintive ballad that frames the breakup of a relationship in heartbreaking words ("I don't know what I've done wrong"). For 15 years he has been one of the most distinctive voices in pop music.

tracklist
A1 Hesitating Nation 3:13
A2Thousand Oaks4:47
A3Dee, Forgiven
A4New Fragility
A5Innocent Weight
B1 Mirror Song
B2CYHSY, 20053:35
B3 Where They Perform Miracles 3:52
B4Went Looking For Trouble
B5If I Were More Like Jesus