I like parts of Hoodwinker because it has so much potential but overall it's just a mess. I also think Bull is lazy lyrically. Slipshod and Destabilise are perfect though. Honestly Enter Shikari hit way more than they miss. I'd struggle to rank their albums because most of them are great.
I'd have to relisten to The Mindsweep because I really didn't like most of that album when it first came out. But a couple of songs on there are bangers. The Spark is also just such a different vibe that I'd need to think on that as well.
Lyrics generally don’t impact my ability to enjoy a song, only if they’re excessively terrible I was curious to know your thoughts, as I consider Enter Shikari to be the one band that I love that puts out songs between albums that I almost consider better than some songs on their subsequent albums rat race Redshift We can breathe in space Stop the clocks Radiate All of those are up there in the ranks of their best songs! Im just glad that this band has been a surprising mainstay in my listening habits…they constantly surprise and evolve in ways that keep me interested. And their one of the few bands that are in a “can’t miss if they play near me” category. Their in a similar category as Coheed for me
I've never seen them live and that majorly disappoints me because I got ALL of my core friends into them during Common Dreads and they have seen them multiple times and now they aren't even fans/don't listen to them anymore and I do and I still haven't seen them. I wasn't super into Stop The Clocks the first two times, but now I think it's such a great song. I really love how they kind of added this whole pop element to their music. I'm going to try to give Bull another listen. It was just the cheesy chorus that threw me off. "You're a bull and my mind is a china shop."
Totally understand, when it first came out I was underwhelmed, mainly from the extremely compressed mix they have on that album - feels oppressive. Felt like a step back from how massive AFFOC sounded. However, it’s a fantastic record and they took a lot more progressive swings that I appreciated. Also, the whole narrative and concept around the album was really instrumental in understanding what they were going for
Not sure where you’re located, but I definitely recommend seeing them live. They put on a fantastic show, consummate professionals through and through. get your friends out for one of their shows too! Promise they won’t regret it
I'm in the north east US. Seeing their live videos is nuts because I just don't understand how they have so much energy for the entire show. It's crazy.
Same here! I was lucky to be at the St Vitus show in NYC. While I wished that the US got some of the more elaborate stage set ups they have in Europe, nothing beats being able to see a band like them for $30-40. The frugal weirdo I am is always ecstatic at getting a great deal lol
Red Shift and Hoodwinker are so good. I was disappointed when they weren't on The Spark. I just added them into the tracklist for The Spark on iTunes so anytime I listen to the album they are woven into it. I put Red Shift right after The Sights and Hoodwinker after Take My Country Back.
I think The Dreamers Hotel is one of my favorite album singles they've ever done. Same with Arguing with Thermometers. They're just so dang catchy.
The Last Garrison probably has one of my favorite choruses they've ever done. It's such a good message for some like me. "HEADS UP AND THANK FUCK YOU'RE STILL ALIVE. STILL AIR IN MY LUNGS STILL BLOOD IN MY VEINS!"
Is this just an Enter Shikari listening party now? Lol Radiate is a top 5 ES song - dying to hear them play it live. Wish they did more softer stuff like the middle of the song. They do it so well
Ranking these albums is REALLY hard. I think it would change depending on my mood. 1. Common Dreads 2. A Flash Flood Of Colour 3. Nothing is True & Everything is Possible 4. Take To The Skies 5. The Mindsweep 6. The Spark I have a feeling this new album will just change this whole list. I'm not even confident in this ranking haha
It's so interesting to see other people's favorites because Shikari has evolved so much over time that it's just kind of strange to introduce someone to them today and be like "oh, you like Satellites? Go listen to Labyrinth off of TTTS."
Sadly never attached to Common Dreads the same way as other records, and at the time AFFOC came out I was only mildly interested in the band, being obsessed with the demo and album versions of TTTS songs, and Juggernauts. But the AFFOC was released and completely cemented the band as a band I needed to follow, and they’ve had a chokehold ever since
My friends were like super into TTTS when I introduced them, but we ALL got hooked on Common Dreads and it just has such an undeniable energy to it that I haven't found consistent in their other albums. But something about AFFOC just...I don't know, it just hits for me more often so that's why the top places are so hard for me to choose.