I think that when you love an artist and you have a long history of enjoying their music and maybe even have a deeply personal and emotional connection to it, you’re definitely likely to like a subpar album more than you would like it if you weren’t already a fan. It’s because you’re gonna be more willing to give it a chance, spend multiple listens to it even if you don’t love it as much immediately, and overlook some of the flaws. Basically the artist can earn a lot of goodwill from you and that will help you think more positively of a new album that maybe you otherwise wouldn’t like as much. Like I enjoy Motion City’s Panic Stations more than most people but I wouldn’t say I had to force myself to get there. I was just more willing to overlook its flaws.
Well I guess I mean it more in a way where these fans act like the band/movie/franchise can do no wrong. Sometimes things are just bad and they just refuse to believe that is a possibility. I had another thought but it slipped my mind. I feel like I'm explaining my thoughts wrong haha .
I think I've gotten my sister around on this album after she was down on it on release, she was the one to really introduce me to the band back in the day so I'm quite happy.
Back down to Earth with a lounge singer shimmer Elevator down to my make-believe residency From the honeymoon suite Two shows a day, four nights a week Easy money That might be my favorite moment on the album.
listened to this album in my walk home from the bar tonight and the ultracheese ended as I walked into my bedroom, felt like magic
Speaking from personal experience. I listened to this maybe five times the weekend it came out, and I remember not being able to remember one single hook, and feeling like Alex had simply just recited poetry over top of sounds for 40 minutes. Likely any other band, that would've been it. But I kept with it simply due to my 'loyalty' to this band - my all time favourite. Now, I love this record and consider it likely one of the most interesting listens in my life.
I love this part too - there's that low-end guitar riff right in that first line. Gets my pumped up. It's funny the more I've listened to this record how much guitar is truly in this record. After AM, it's incredibly reserved but it does appear in most sections of the record. Recent example, I remember thinking 'Batphone' had basically no guitar, and then I watched a live video and they use two guitars throughout - one for that heavy riff, one for the palm muted syncopation during verses - chorus's play overlapping chord variations until Alex switches to that high little guitar lick that repeats.
FWN is probably still my favorite. This is close 2nd and Whatever People Say is 3. Everything else is pretty uneven for me. All their records have undeniable tunes though. They have a really strong batch of great songs.
Videos dead but was it the BBC1 performance? I loved it. I thought the video work was top notch and they sounded incredible. I also love the piano 'Golden Trunks' at the end. I'd kill now to hear the demos of the record - just Turner and his keys