Bold ambition, mixed results

The Scholars marks Car Seat Headrest’s first release in five years. The Seattle-based indie rock band began developing the album in 2023 and the final product suggests an aim toward a large-scale, conceptual project— possibly a rock opera. Across its eight tracks, the album uses long runtimes, recurring musical motifs and shifts in tone that hint at a larger story or thematic structure.

The opener, “CCF (I’m Gonna Stay With You),” introduces this direction clearly. It begins with a quiet piano line and gradually builds through layers of synth and vocal harmonies. Clocking in at eight minutes, it sets the tone for an expansive, cinematic experience.

“Deveraux” follows with a steady drum and guitar rhythm and a more traditional rock structure. “Lady Gay Approximately” introduces a stripped-down, acoustic sound – creating a pause in momentum before “The Catastrophe (Good Luck With That, Man)” brings back energy with driving guitars and a quicker pace.

The middle of the record leans into conventional rock arrangements. “Equals” opens with a staggered piano rhythm and moves into solid vocals and percussion. “Gethsemane” takes a different approach, beginning with unaccompanied vocals and ambient background noise before gradually adding drums, keys and layered harmonies. A synth-led section mid-song brings a dynamic shift, while drum and vocal arrangements carry the second half forward.

The final three tracks extend the album’s length considerably. “Reality” stretches over eleven minutes and features soft percussion, low vocals and an extended ambient intro. “Planet Desperation,” the longest track at eighteen minutes, cycles through a wide range of styles: piano balladry, rock instrumentation, falsetto sections and acoustic breakdowns. These shifts are frequent and dramatic, with motifs returning and evolving throughout the track.

The album closes with “True/False Lover,” a brief, energetic song led by drums and guitar. At just over three minutes, it contrasts the extended structure of the rest of the record and ties up the album with a faster tempo and tighter arrangement.

With The Scholars, Car Seat Headrest presents a musically ambitious project that experiments with structure, progression and texture. While some tracks follow familiar patterns, others branch out, creating a listening experience that balances repetition with variation.