Were you referring to Broke? I have it listed as a bonus track, but I think it's a really great closer.
This is going to take a while to digest. Definitely not that excited about it after the first listen.
Listen again. It's so diverse and full of interesting ideas. Only complaint is the production (around the vocals, mainly) could be a little better and they could be a little more focused. But this is a pretty stellar debut.
My biggest complaint on first listen is production around the vocals. It seems like they're always low in the mix or have some kind of effect on them, or both. I definitely noticed the difference most on the songs I heard live. "Head North Is a Business" was the one I loved when I saw them in March, and it's probably my favorite on the album as well, but I wish it had a bigger, cleaner vocal sound. I do appreciate that it's a pretty ambitious album and they seem to be trying to stray off the same beaten path as their peers, but I wish it had a couple more songs with big choruses and great melodies. On that note, I don't think any song on the album would have been as good of a single to push as "Broke," so I'm kind of surprised it ended up as a bonus track, especially because the lyrics tie directly in to other songs on the album. Also, I loved the Long Winters reference in "Somewhere, ND."
Yeah I have no idea why Broke ended up as a bonus track. It fits in so nicely with the rest of the album.
I would argue that a lot of the songs have great melodies (maybe not big choruses, although some do) but the vocal production buries them a bit. He has a great voice and it should be higher in the mix!
I agree with everyone, the vocals definitely need to come up, especially considering his voice is so damn good. I'd love it if I could understand the lyrics haha. That said, I still think this record is mind blowing and it floors me every time I listen to it.
Yeah the vocals could definitely be higher in the mix. I think the mix works better on songs like Pulse where Brent's voice functions more like an instrument than Head North Is A Business which is pretty lyrical. Aside from that I like the production a lot. Favorite tracks? Mine is Pulse with honorable mentions to Broke and Fallow.
Pulse, The First One, and Broke are probably my top favorites, but Head North Is A Business, Fallow, and White Light are also standouts.
I wasn't sure if it was my deaf ear but apparently no one else can hear vocals either. I'll just make up my own I guess. EDIT: but being deaf is fun sometimes because you flip your headphones and it's like a brand new song.
Super ambitious album, to say the least. This guy has one of the coolest voices in the scene. It's a shame it really is so low in the mix.
The vocals only really feel lost in a few songs. Finally got the chance to really dig in and this is very very good.
I thought you already listened based on your "This is fantastic" post earlier in the thread. Did you get a chance?