Mighty Fall and Rat a Tat are both great songs that just unfortunately have features I could do without
Still can’t believe how much “better” Pat sings after the reunion. He definitely learned how to sing in a much healthier manner. They also mixed his vocals much differently
I’ve been listening to Alone Together lately since I’ve been seeing that #AloneTogether campaign a lot lol
MANIA has some of my all-time favorite FOB songs - Stay Frosty, Last of the Real Ones, Wilson, and Bishops Knife Trick. I love the verses of Stay Frosty. And "The only thing that's ever stopping me is me" in the chorus? Awwww yeah. Last of the Real Ones is just a ton of fun. I love the chorus in Wilson too, as well as the line "I became such a strange shape from trying to fit in". BKT is absolutely heartbreaking for me. That bridge ("I know I should walk away, but I just wanna let you break my brain") and the emotion in Patrick's voice when he says "And I can't seem to get a grip!" Nearly brings me to tears every time. AB/AP has great tracks too. I absolutely LOVE Jet Pack Blues, Novocaine, and Favorite Record. And Twin Skeleton's is a great finale to the album. Kids Aren't Alright is a banger too.
I know this is a hot take in other places, probably is here too, but I genuinely think MANIA is the band's best album. I also think AB/AP is highly underrated and is largely made up of some of the band's best songs.
I love MANIA overall, but I think Champion and the title track suck. Sunshine Riptide is fine. But for an album with 10 tracks, that leaves me with 7 great tracks, 70% of the album, so that's a C overall, SORRY
FOB is great bc any of their albums can be my favorite at any given time. I’ll go through periods where all I want to do is listen to AB/AP or IOH or whatever. Most recently it was IOH, before that it was Mania. I’m excited for what’s next!
AB/AP is the only FOB album that I really don't care for at all. IOH is probably still my favorite. The frenetic pace is addicting.
Man that album dropped when I was going to school in San Jose and I would listen to Sunshine Riptide while riding my bike to campus and it'd be hot af and it was just perfect.
I've said it before but MANIA is the post-hiatus album that feels the most "FOB" imo. I love SR&R but it could be a different artist a lot of the time besides the lyrics/vocal melodies, but something about the vibe/aesthetic of MANIA feels just like FAD or IOH to me