The Scholars

'The Scholars' is a sprawling rock opera that marks a significant shift from the indietronica of the band's previous work, built instead from collaborative, jam-based songwriting and recorded primarily with analog equipment. Functioning as a concept album set within a fictional university, its dense and often cryptic narrative is sung from the perspectives of various characters to explore themes of youth, yearning, and spiritual anxiety. The ambitious project, self-produced by Will Toledo, saw him move into an "organizer" role to shape the full band's contributions into a complex and critically lauded effort noted for its bold scope.