Last time we heard from Quickspace, it was 1996. Digital technology was in full swing, the people of Tibet were being shit on by China, and Clinton was still the President of the United States. Yep, you don't really consider how long ago that was until you really stop and think about it.

For those of you that didn't get in on the ground floor when these kids' charming self- titled debut was released, Precious Falling might be a better place to start. This record shows the band's tendency toward long, repetitive droning pop songs reined in a bit, the production is infinitely better, and the songwriting is a bit more refined. This isn't to say that the songs are that much different-- they're just better.

Nope, Cullinan still crafts those bouncy, subtly catchy 5+ minute- long things with buzzing, distorted guitars and simply- arranged boy/girl vocal melodies. But the main thing that makes this an overall better release than Quickspace is the fact that the band actually sounds really into what they're doing.

I do have a complaint, though, as always-- some of these songs could have stood being cut. Since home recording technology has become more widely available, there's been a dramatic increase in shitty filler. People say, "We've got 75 minutes! Why not release everything we recorded?" Here's why-- it takes twice as much effort to wade through 75 minutes than it does to sit through 38. And when there's a track like the aimless, meandering and boring "Hadid" sitting right on Track 6, it makes people want to listen to something better. It also detracts from the overall cohesive vision of the album.

But for the most part, Precious Falling is 70 minutes I enjoy spending with Quickspace. The last three years seem to have been pretty good to them. And who knows? Maybe by the time their next album's released, digital technology will still be in full swing, the people of Tibet will still be getting shit on by China, and Clinton will still be the President of the United States.

-Ryan Schreiber