Rainer Maria reached full maturity on Long Knives Drawn (Polyvinyl, 2003)—their final record, Catastrophe Keeps Us Together (2006), is more of a postscript to their recording career. Caithlin DeMarrais is 100% the frontwoman here—guitarist Kyle Fischer’s vocal contributions are practically non-existent—and this is decidedly her record. Gone is the sentimental lyrical catharsis; instead, DeMarrais sounds alternately outraged and detached on songs like “Long Knives” and “Ears Ring.” Emotion isn’t fully expunged however—this is still an emo band, after all—and songs like “The Awful Truth of Loving” and “Connecticut Catholic” might have been more appropriate on an earlier album. This record also marks the height of their instrumental interplay—Rainer Maria are truly a band on this record: DeMarrais’s bass is tighter than ever; Fischer’s guitar is energetic and manic yet restrained and in lock-step with Will Kuehn’s drumming, which has progressed miles from the workmanlike technique of earlier recordings. While Rainer Maria never reached full pop maturity—Catastrophe went a bit further but didn’t quite nail it—Long Knives Drawn demonstrates that emo clichés don’t have to age poorly: this record acknowledges their fans’ investment without ignoring their maturity.