Clip reminds me of the “...Of Nightmares” EP. I’m not too concerned given the released songs and other song clips sounding good so far.
I hope to hear a little more “grit“ out of Tom on this album... some harsher vocals, hopefully some heavier tones and riffs... an example of what I wish he’d do more of is the little break at 1:33. The guitar almost gets kinda “djenty“ (not really but you see my point) and he brings on a more aggressive tone vocally... like just actually DO some of that in the studio. It seems like he goes for this straight-forward, hyper polished sound all the time, on the record, and it’s getting a little bland. Dirty it up a little...
I’ve stopped getting excited from song clips after being let down so many times thinking it’s going into a progressive direction and then we end up with wicker basket lyrics.
Watched their kroq xmas set while making dinner and it was pretty good. Tom was having tons of fun on stage.
Not gonna lie...The past month and a half....I've spent more money on TTS and AVA merch than any other retail store. Tom's signature mini-strat, AVA t-shirt, TTS sweatshirt, and a Sticker. TTS and AVA have had some awesome merch options over the past couple years. This merch, Descendents, and MxPx's merch are top notch. Love'em all.
what's everyone's favorite album? I've gotten through all the music video songs and a couple others, but not a full album yet. where should I start? thanks!
The first two are widely considered the best but there’s a lot of love for The Dream Walker had an accompanying anime released with it which is pretty dope.
I’d probably say I-Empire WDNTW really didn’t age well, the Love albums are just too much of the same... The Dream Walker was pretty great though from what I remember. “Mercenaries” especially.
I-Empire and The Dream Walker are my top two. The Love albums have the absolute best production. I think Part I is better front to back. Part II has a lot more synth and experimentation on it. The songs are slow burners on Part II but there are some very good songs on there. There’s also a full length movie to accompany the albums. WDNTW - people love this debut and consider it a classic, but I personally don’t go back to it much. The Chasing Shadows EP RULES. I think the new album will be more like this EP given the studio clips and songs released.
I probably go back to WDNTW the most. I'd probably says it's my favourite. You can just feel the passion and struggle Tom's going through plus there's so much nostalgia tied to it for me. Dream walker is next for how different it tried to be. Followed by the EPs. Then Love albums and I-Empire are kinda all at the bottom. I-Empire just hasn't aged as well for me. And while I like things from the Love albums, and the production is great, there's just a lot of forgettable songs
Dream Walker for sure although i do very much appreciate the catchiness of the earlier records. I find Chasing Shadows kinda hits that middle ground and sonically has the feel of DW but the underlying catchiness of Angels first few records.
I'd love Dream Walker so much more if the production was better. I-Empire is good but there's a lot of songs on there that make me cringe (I've always thought Everythings Magic was the corniest song). I still put WDNTW as my number one.
Whisper Empire everything else. This band is pretty much just nostalgia for me at this point. And I’d still go see another tour just to see Tom in a live setting again. Lol.
I love almost every piece of merch AVA/TTS put out! I loved pretty much every thing Macbeth was doing toward the tail end of Tom’s involvement too. Not sure how much is him and how much is the people he puts in charge of those design decisions, but it’s always very much something I’d wear. Now if only I had more money in the budget to spend on those things haha.
I always have a hard time not working through a discography chronologically if I’m doing a first deep dive. I think WDNTW is great if AVA is a style and sound you mostly enjoy. It’s overly ambitious and a little too much at many times throughout the album - but that’s who Tom is. I’ll admit a good chunk of my love for that album is probably rooted in nostalgia though haha. I-Empire is the most straightforward, I’d argue, of their albums. A ton of songs are single worthy and very hook-heavy. It’s probably the safest place to find the things you want to hear if you’re just getting into the bulk of the back catalog. All of the other albums can pretty much follow after those two in whatever order you feel like.
I wish Tom could just admit to himself that he blows at producing. That would potential change the course for all future projects of his.
well, i cut out your part about the nostalgia, but i don't know that i'd have that with this band since i didn't even know about it back then. Also, i kinda prefer Blink and Boxcar. Maybe that's why i actually did just what you suggested. lol I mean, just by chance, I-Empire is the album I'm most familiar with... actually, i guess i'm not tho! looking at all the tracklists now side by side, I guess the first and Love I would be the ones! Furthermore, it turns out, in regards to the music videos, I have most nostalgia with the earlier ones because of Tom's looks and mannerisms. I even see a bit of Adam Lazzara influence there in his performance, which is sweet! All of that said, I am also obsessed with Kiss and Tell! If there's going to be more like this, the new album might just end up my fave. Well, it might still be a fave just for the fact that it's my first release since joining the fandom. :D