Fireworks - Higher Lonely Power (January 1, 2023) Album • Page 28

I really don’t think OCL is pop punk. Gospel even is more pop rock than punk, but definitely still had elements. I think those are mostly gone by the time OCL comes around.

 

yeah ive never been the biggest fan of his voice but he sounds really really good here

 

OCL was definitely a pretty big change in sound compared to most of the first two albums and the pop punk scene was still in its “Sad Boi” phase. There’s quite a few bands who fell in popularity in that time due to even slight change in sounds or records than fans didn’t like. Polar Bear Club, SYG, Swellers, Transit, etc all kind of fell big time while bands like TSSF, Real Friends, Neck Deep and State Champs blew up. I feel like a change in sound is much more accepted now days compared to 8-10 years ago.

 

TBH I feel like most of those had a drop of popularity not due to a change in sound, but because they just weren’t that good. Transit’s post L&F output is suspect at best, Jimmy’s voice in that last Polar Bear Club album isn’t good (I know it was necessary), and SYG’s Burning at Both Ends was a dud. Swellers were always just okay to me.

 

First few listens were with my really good headphones and it really delivers in that listening setting

 

i do feel like this is honestly the case. i think around that time people basically just wanted more of the same, which imo explains why the bands that blew up blew up, and the ones that burned out burned out, at least to an extent

 

So listened through it twice. Honestly if someone played me most of these songs I’d never pin them as being Fireworks. Not sure how I feel about it at this point. It was just jarringly different to me.

That being said I’m glad they put out the album they obviously wanted to.

I get some MWOY and Foxing vibes. Also the Bloc Party sound at times as well.

Happy it’s being well received here. Hoping that they’ve distanced themselves from certain controversial scene members over these past few years as well.

 

This is way better than it has any right to be. Sounds weirdly like Neon Bible for a lot of it.

 

They got the bombast levels just right.

 

listened to this through four times now and it really is outstanding. as much as i loved gospel and oh, common life this is easily their best, and it's not even close. always nice watching a band like this progress in such a triumphant way

 

This is going to be a ‘best’ and ‘favorite’ discussion for me. I can understand this being their best, but I highly doubt it will be the life defining album that Gospel was for me.

 

Spectacular

 

I lost my grandpa yesterday, and this record could not have come at a better time. I had always known of these guys, and saw them for the first time opening for the Wonder Years in October, and something has finally clicked

 

Sorry for your loss. Hope you’re doing okay

 

Thank you! It's been a rough couple days, but just working through it, as he would want

 

With Gaslight and prob the Menzingers releasing albums this year amongst many others I can’t say this will be my favorite, and the fact that it is January 2nd, however, this just feels like an album I’m going to play through out the entire year and consistently coming back to. I love this.

 

Sorry to hear that ❤️

 

Thank you

 

So sorry for your loss.

 

Always wild when an album drops at just the right time. Hope it helps you through the tough time. Sorry for your loss.

 

Thought for sure after my first listen that this album would be too much of a “downer” to put on repeat but no, incorrect, this album does great on repeat.

 

I was scared I wouldn’t like this album at all, which is usually my fear with comeback albums. Insane that it might end up my favorite. I for sure think it’s their best.

 

Thank you

 

Repeated listens are making me realize how varied this sounds. They really put a lot of effort into making each song a really unique piece to a puzzle while also feeling cohesive. That’s an incredible feat.

 

This is gonna get tons of plays this year.