I don't know if it's because I find Do One so bad and it's track 1, leaving a bad taste in my mouth, but this hasn't gripped me at all. It feels like a collection of songs that would slot in by the B-Side compilations he released a decade ago.
On my first run-through, this is pretty typical of the latter half of his career. A few songs so bad I consider just turning it off ("Girl From the Record Shop," "Pandemic PTSD," "No Thank You For the Music") but just enough bright spots that I won't write him off entirely. I really like "Ceasefire" and "Letters." "East Finchley" and "International Hide and Seek Champions" are decent, at least by his recent standards. "Do One" has even grown on me to the point where I won't mind hearing it live if see him at a festival again.
i didnt think he could make a song worse than Make America Great Again but Pandemic PTSD sure goes leaps and bounds beyond it
One listen through and I only liked 4 songs (PTSD, Letters, East Finchley, International). The last 4 tracks are a real slog. I still think Mittens is his worst song but, Show People gives it a run for it's money.
I don’t mind the majority of this and think it’s mostly pretty fun. Obviously it’s nowhere near his peak, but Frank still largely hits for me when I don’t take it too seriously or pour over the lyrics lol
People are really out here defending Mittens? Positive Songs starts out pretty strong then that song just brings it to a grinding halt and only at Love Forty Down and Song for Josh does it ever match the same quality as the opening 4 or 5 tracks.
Mittens does not clear any song on FTHC. That album has 1 or 2 duds, but i’ll still take those over Mittens.
I haven’t listened yet and I know there’s a lot of Mittens talk happening in this thread, but I refuse to believe any new song of his could be worse than MAGA, Going Nowhere or Sand in the Gears.
Agree to disagree then, that's easily the best album of his last four but I don't like any song on there as much as Mittens. Looks like we also disagree on that entire section of Positive Songs because Mittens to Love Forty Down is probably my favourite stretch of the record.
All good! On record a lot of the back half doesn’t work for me, but Demons and Out of Breath are so much fun live.
I don't get the level of dislike for Pandemic PTSD. I went back and listened to it again and I liked it less the second time around but, I still think it's one of the better songs on this album. I definitely don't understand the Mittens love in the comments.