I like the Muse/Foo explanation. Didn't think of Muse! And Bigger choruses. (unfamiliar with FR. Heard of them but not heard them)
ah i can't dig the book out to check at the moment but they were definitely an established band in the UK at that point - it would have been in late 00s/early 10s if i had to guess
Feels like it's missing a true off-the-rails track, but I dig most of this. Hunting Season, True Believer and Two People in Love are rippers and are the highlights for me.
This is pretty saccharine, but still full of Biffy's weirdness, and it sounds like they had a total blast writing/recording the album. Simon's vocals are really great all the way through and I had a lot of fun listening. It's mad how Simon Neil can make something as easy listening as this but also do something as insane amd heavy as Empire State Bastard. It genuinely sounds like he used up all of his aggression on that project and this is him wanting to do a complete 180 on that sound. Definitely not their best, but a thousand times better than Ellipsis, and it is a lovely time.
The last time they cleaved this close to a poppy sound for an entire record, they put out their weakest album. One I admittedly loved at the time but the lows are low. I love the singles from this, not listened to the rest yet.
I am assuming this is…, but I could be wrong. Two people in love and true believer are already on my wife’s playlists. I married a good one.
Yeah it is, Howl and Rearrange are examples of this band playing to the gallery with horrific results.
Yeah that album is pretty devoid of the enormous personality they show on all their other records. It's so odd because on the lead up Simon was talking about taking inspiration from Kendrick, Deafheaven and Billie Eilish and then they released Wolves of Winter which just sounds like a bad Muse song lol.
Wolves gets a great pop live though so I'll always give it that. Need to listen to the new one tomorrow.
Friendshipping is cool and sounds like a long lost staple for them but man I don’t care for the rest at all. Immediately one of their weakest along with Ellipsis for me. Hopefully they’re sitting on some quality b-sides as always, or they’ll bounce back with the follow-up.
Huge agree. Was fairly surprised to not enjoy this album much outside of the singles and Friendshipping, but very much an Ellipsis II for me. I feel like the work they put in here will pay off on the next one - this is an album that addresses difficult times that saw the band to the brink, and will allow them to move forward instead of imploding!
Man. Postponed the US tour because of a visa issue. What a bummer. Gonna hold my tickets for the spring. Mon the Biff!
Gig at Finsbury Park in London announced with Nothing But Thieves, Don Broco, Marmozets and Wavves supporting. Absolutely love that undercard.
I think "Two People In Love" is gonna be my capper on my yearly playlist. Something that makes me feel hopeful about the year, something anthemic, something that kicks my ass. It's gotta feel like the end of a party you don't want to leave.