Completely disagree, I think this has way more energy than the last album on the whole. I'm really liking it so far.
This definitely feels a lot more cohesive. Last album felt like he just wrote A TON of songs (and I love several from it)
This is how I'm feeling after 3 listens in. This feels more cohesive and more of a mix of their first two albums, with more interesting melodies and choruses. Last album feels a little more like a solo project/side album, given how straightforward and simple some of the songs were. And this is an unfair criticism to state, but the idea that great art comes from pain often rings true to me, and you can feel something really beautiful in Jack processing his sister's death on the first two albums. Since he's been in stable relationships and the themes have shifted from guilt, coping, and finding meaning from death, to happiness, something about it is not quite the same. I don't think it's impossible to have more beautiful music at the same level of intensity, creativity, and expression as when someone is not at their very best... but there's something very beautiful and empathetic about how relatable music can be when it's about something a little more substantial.
Hmm, I get the underlying idea, but Happiness is not the theme I have taken from this album so far, but it’s only been three full spins I think.
That’s fair. I think there’s an underlying motif of happiness in his stuff now that was clearly absent before, but it’s not the theme (and my god I do know what this reads like, so I hope at least the gist of what I’m saying is coming through)
yup, this was me exactly as well - I think I had a huge smile on my face throughout my entire first listen
I love this and do think it’s his tightest and most cohesive record in a long time but I still don’t think it’s wildly better or all that different than the last couple, particularly S/T, although the highs are a little higher.
I still hear just as much of the Springsteen cosplay here as the last few records…I respect the pivot to a more analog recording process and sound…but I really do think the music misses those synths and electronic elements on the first two records.
Makes sense given the TBC lyric references on this album, and it really seems like the (deserved) negative feelings toward chris don’t extend much past this site.
I honestly think that barely anyone knows about the whole thing, it was basically only covered on this site in one thread and that's kinda it
I’m of the many who adored his first two and he really lost me on the last 2 to the point that I just now got around to finally checking this out. And I really like it! Pleasantly surprised.
now that I’ve gotten to it a few more times, “upstairs at els” is so damn good. “Sideways” through “take you out tonight” is so elite I kept having to start the record over.
Spent a lot of time with the album this weekend, and I think it's incredible. I've gotten goosebumps at some point almost every listen. I'm good with him sticking to what he's doing instead of trying to go back to Strange Desire/Gone Now days - for me, this is on par with those two. Looking back through all the Bleachers album, there's a really cool deconstruction & rebuilding of the "Bleachers sound" and knowing now where the last couple albums were leading too, I think I will appreciate them more. upstairs at els is a perfect song and will definitely be a huge part of my summer soundtrack.