This is really dense, and is going to take a while to digest, but it just feels so good to hear this band again.
I'm both blown away and know that I didn't fully appreciate it after one listen. Going to need a few more listens to really get it and finding some lyrics somewhere would help, but on first listen this is unbelievably unique and ambitious without ever losing its emotional power That being said, Demitasse still may have been the best song on here if it were included (although lots of competition there!)
this is nothing like I expected it to be in the best way, lots of really great, bold ideas on display here. I revisited Oh, Common Life and a couple songs from Gospel earlier and, while I do still have an emotional attachment and fond memories attached to those albums, I just really am not all that into pop-punk anymore so they didn’t resonate with me quite the same as they used to. still had a good time but it left me wondering how I would feel about a new Fireworks album in 2023; very thankful they threw this wonderful curveball. outside of showcasing their best musicianship to date by far (imo) they really nailed it on the lyrical front too. a lot of these lyrics hit hard as hell.
My initial reaction to this record is that the sequencing is weird. I spent the first half of the record thinking that it wasn’t really what I want from a Fireworks album. It’s missing a lot of the catchiness/pop-punk hooks that I wanted from them. Then I got to Blood In the Milk and everything from there to the end of the record is a lot more in line with what I was hoping for. It kind of feels like two separate albums. I feel like if they had mixed up the sequencing a little bit, peppered those last five tracks and the other, it might have worked better.
I haven’t seen it mentioned yet but Estate Sale is something else, I’m obsessed with Dave’s delivery on this one
https://www.higherlonelypower.com/ Confirmation of RFC. Hopefully means a physical will turn up eventually!
Available for "name your price" on Bandcamp. But if you like what you hear you should pay SOMETHING to make sure they don't take another 10 year hiatus and so Dave doesn't need to sign up for so many medical experiments.
Enjoyed my first listen. Kind of a step forward in the direction they took with Oh, Common Life. I’ll have to get used to the LoFi style of production as I do with any LoFi production. But… -I Want To Start A Religion With You -Goodnight Tomb -Woods II …love them!
Revisiting Oh, Common Life and Gospel. They both still hold up, great pop punk records. But also… holy shit the progression on the new album is just that much more stunning to me now. Their past stuff was still clearly rooted in pop punk, and the new music is just so much more expansive and atmospheric. Obviously it’s been many years, but still very impressive.
I am VERY glad I got to experience the shock of God Approved Insurance Plan to begin the album, but Demitasse would fit right in as the opener as well. Album is so damn good
I know a ton of people don’t like the “band comparison” game, but I hear a good bit of Menz, ManOrch, Brand New, and Gaslight Anthem. No pop punk to be found anywhere on this thing.