I can definitely see preferring Matt's singing, he's got a terrific voice. Dan's songwriting is more my speed though, dude gets real. Songs like Take Lots With Alcohol have got me through a lot. Do you mean lead single? I don't think they ever have, but stuff like I'm Only Here to Disappoint and Dine Dine My Darling were definitely dropped as pre-release singles. Yeah, I'm just an idiot. I was probably about 11 when I first found this band and I just jumped to the most basic possible pronunciation. Somehow never heard his name said out loud in all that time lmao
I'll always be a Matt guy first. Even if Dan has easily been the better songwriter last 3 records. I just don't get into Dan's side stuff much either. Heavens was perfect and I probably enjoy The Sekrets more than most of Matt's Trio stuff over that time too.
The Radiator, Of Peace Quiet And Monsters, and String Bean Jean are also fucking perfect songs that I wish appeared on that record
Man, Heavens is sooooooo good. It’s crazy how well that album and sound holds up. I feel like that album would be huge today.
I should also add that even though I’m drawn to Matt’s vocals and songwriting more, Dan sure has the most unique vocals and writing combination. My top 5 Dan songs in no order: Only Love Burned Is The House Smoke Broken Wings Do You Wanna Know Honorable Mention: Ruin It
Ruin It is so underrated. Feels like a more polished early Dan song. I Lied My Face Off and Crawl are easily forever my favorite Dan songs.
I can't imagine String Bean Jean making it due to it being a cover, but yeah Of Peace Quiet and Monsters is straight up fucking amazing. It saddens me how few people are invested enough to even hear that song in the first place. I have no idea what my top 5 Dan songs would be cos he's meant so much to me over the years. Fine, She Took Him to the Lake, Take Lots With Alcohol, Another Innocent Girl, Settle With Satin, Burned is the House, In My Stomach... dude is a fucking machine
Dan's favorite writing for me was on Good Mourning. I absolutely adore "One Hundred Stories" "Emma" and "Every Thug Needs A Lady"
Emma was written by Matt, but otherwise yeah. Every Thug, One Hundred Stories and Blue Carolina especially are absolutely incredible. Why every album from then on wasn't 50/50 between the two songwriters I have no idea, especially given Matt's inconsistent hit-rate (to put it mildly)
Matt has always been a favorite of mine. Not solely in Trio, but in general, he’s a musical icon of mine and I am always drawn to whatever he’s working on because I know I’ll love it in one way or another. I’ve been a fan since FHTI, and they’re easily my all-time favorite band. Now, with that said, Dan is a treasure and has a real talent with squeezing in a lot of words into a beautiful, hummable melody (Laura Jane Grace also does this really well). Just read his songs aloud and you’re like, “how can someone make THIS catchy?!” And he does it! Dan is responsible for several of my favorite songs of theirs: “Burned is the House” might be my top favorite song of theirs, period — it demonstrates every strong attribute Dan offers as a songwriter. “Fine” is another criminally underrated tune of his; he’s written some damn fine closing tracks (“Smoke” also rules). Not sure if anybody’s heard the acoustic version of “Love Love, Kiss Kiss,” but it’s Matt on lead; swapping vocals on certain songs would be a really cool idea for them to explore — especially with how many bands are revisiting their catalogs and rearranging previous songs. Food for thought.
Here's 'Past Live' version of "'97" for anyone who wants it. Its an AudioTree recording and ripped from the live video. I wanted it so I ripped it, ha. 18 '97 (Live).mp3