they learned their lesson from Invented, where the title track absolutely should have been the closer and Mixtape kinda ends with a whimper
After two disappointing albums imo (by their high standards), I feel like IB and Surviving point to a truly re-energised and revitalised JEW. What's great is each album showcases a different side of their sound down the years and it's good to see they can still do the mellow and more upbeat aspect of their sound to a good quality.
Invented title track a top 5 JEW song. absolutely should have been a closer. will take that to the grave.
I really like this, though there isn't a JEW album I don't like. I'll need to spend more time with it but I am enjoying it so far!
I remember when the Invented tracklist had come out and videos of Jim performing "Mixtape" live were going around. I think the live take was three minutes and acoustic and I remember thinking it just didn't seem like a JEW closer, especially coming after "23" and "Dizzy." Then I heard what they did with it on record and it made perfect sense. The "Invented"/"Mixtape" one-two punch works pretty perfectly for me, even if the penultimate track is ultimately greater than the closer.
Zach had some really interesting things to say about this in our interview, which I will hopefully be able to share today!
So was Davey Havok just buried in the backing vocals on Congratulations or something? I honestly can't detect him at all.
Even if it was just an echo in the distance. That would have been cool. On another note, I'd love to hear Tom sing Criminal Energy live. It wouldn't happen, I know, but if there was ever a song more suited for him since Action Needs An Audience...
Every song on this album could be a single. They should have just called the album Greatest Hits. some impressions from first listen: Delivery has major Invented vibes. 555 almost sounds like their take on modern radio rock. One Mil could have absolutely been on the American Pie soundtrack. Congratulations has the sound of Circa Survive's last few albums and it would have been amazing to have Anthony Green doing Davey's part.
"Invented"/"Mixtape" is the best two-song punch in their discog and absolutely nothing about it should change now to decide if I should jam this now and go to work tomorrow low on sleep or save it, shit
so does anyone feel like integrity blues to surviving is perhaps the biggest shift in their sound since.....static to clarity? clarity to BA?
heavy clarity -> bleed american vibes on these two releases, just in terms of how strong they are as individual records and how they chart a similar progression