New listener because I kept hearing good things about NMG. This album is like a lesson in songwriting. No one can touch this album right now. The electronic drumming is so well executed but not overbearing. Grand Paradise and Heartbeats are easily my initial favs. Been pretty touchy about his vocals in the past but all of the risks this go around are well worth it and vibes with all of the other layers really well outside of a few melody choices here and there (last half of Grand Paradise, vocals 180 into an almost Disney singalong) but are so rare that it’s easy to overlook.
The transition into the last half and the instrumentals are beautiful and open up the album to all of its varying moods. The background vocals (the yelling and the ooh's) are all A+ but that main vocal cadence messes me up. Something I'm sure I will see the beauty in with more listens.
There are a few moments on this record where Conor's voice reminds me of Dave from Fireworks, in a good way.
Love this record. But I don’t really care much for The Albatross or Dealer. That’s probably a great sign for this band. People who loved those records and people who don’t both agree that Nearer My God is fucking excellent.
Yeah I liked a few songs here and there but I never quite got Foxing until this record. Now I’ve gone back and I’m hooked
Am I the only one who hears a bit of As Tall As Lions in Heartbeats? It totally sounds like a song that would have fit in on You Can't Take It With You.
Grand Paradise The Magdalene Glass Coughs Nearer My God Heartbeats The Medic Lich Prince Night Channels Three on a Match Bastardizer Slapstick Gameshark Rory The order probably isn’t totally correct but those were all the songs
I was actually thinking his part sounded like John Nolan's backing vocals haha. It definitely has a TBS vibe though.
I think the 1-2 punch of “Grand Paradise” and “Slapstick” is pretty hard to beat. Those songs close out so well. I keep going back to them.