The Family Afloat, the second full album by Chi-town dwellers Bound Stems, is about how you can’t go home again — and leaves nothing but a trail of long-distance girlfriends and empty bottles in its wake. With a gritty Isaac Brock-ish approach to lyrics, singer Bobby Gallivan offers world-weary reproach amid a bevy of effervescent hooks. Unfortunately the album is marred by its lack of emotional resiliency —?the Stems nail the charming quirkiness of Built To Spill but not their compelling narratives. “You don’t need to worry about me,” Gallivan assures us on “The Palace Flophouse and Grill.” But bro, when you’re crashing on the couch and don’t seem to be going anywhere, we can’t help but be concerned. 

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