Boggles my mind that these debates even happen: JEW is life; life is JEW (minus anything prior to Static, duh). You want world peace? Everyone shut up, listen to JEW, and repeat. GOSH!
I was pretty clear about how I felt about it in the part you didn't quote. It's a criticism because due to the writing and production style, it started to sound too samesy and safe to me, and this band appeals to me way more when they don't play it safe.
I understand the concept of trying too hard but more as it manifests itself in a band's personality, aesthetic, etc. than their music. Brand New is the obvious example here, of course.
I guess now that I think about it though, to use All Time Low as an example, Dirty Work does sound like that band trying way too hard (to their detriment) to write a radio hit. So I guess I do understand the criticism, I just never would've thought to use it for this band, everything they do seems so natural to them.
All Time Low was absolutely trying too hard on that record. Arcade Fire on Reflektor is another terrific example of a band trying way too hard.
It just doesn't make sense to me. I read the full thing, but I didn't quote the rest of it because I got that. I don't understand what's wrong with the band writing uptempo songs - hell, here it goes is an uptempo song. And sure, just because all their closers (sans you were good) are sprawling, none of them sound alike. I don't really get what you're feeling is samey about them, I guess, and why you think the songs that stand out - I'll reference here it goes again bc that's the one you reference - stand out in particular
Is that the consensus of Brand New now? I suppose I get it but I've always felt the opposite - their music hasn't always appealed to me (Daisy was a bit of a mess) but they've evolved a lot more between albums than they get credit for and something always keeps me interested. Although with that I Am A Nightmare single, once someone said Interpol I couldn't unhear it. Hard to put my finger on I guess. Here It Goes is a much different kind of uptempo song for them - unabashedly poppy, that nimble bass line - JEW has always been catchy but for a band of their background to write such a dancey, otherwise flaky number and have it seem so natural just blew me away. Whereas, for example, if I had to line up the tracks on CTL vs the ones on Futures, it's a landslide. Much prefer Futures to Big Casino. Much prefer Work to Always Be. Much prefer Kill to Carry You. Much prefer 23 to Dizzy. They're just stronger, more well written tracks in my opinion. Again, if CTL had been my first JEW album, I'd adore it. But I hopped on the train during Bleed American, I was ready to hear something different from them and it was really only Here It Goes that stuck with me from that album. Why does everyone hate Leto? Haven't seen Suicide Squad yet and I hear he's cringe worthy but prior to that he's a pretty phenomenal actor overall and a solid musician to boot, I tend to fangirl rather than hate.
Weird. I disagree with you on all points, haha, but whatever. Here it goes is spectacular, and I'm glad we can agree on that
Yeah, to me with Brand New it's more about their public persona and the way they market themselves that, over the last several years, has definitely made me feel that they're trying too hard in that regard. Musically I don't feel the same way.
It's interesting, I'd always thought Futures was their AP.net consensus "classic", but now it seems people have been crazy about the follow-up all along. I wish I shared the sentiment but even these guys "weaker" albums are strong so whatever indeed. I never knew why Here It Goes didn't get any radio push. It's one of those instant earworm melodies.
Nah I think futures is still the favorite, people just like CTL more than they used to This is probably the biggest crime of this band's career, you're totally right. I feel like always be had potential as well tho
But they don't market themselves... Like if sending random emails is marketing then yeah they market themselves in the very loosest sense of the word. I get that I'm a fanboy... But I would say they are as far from try hard as possible. I really don't think they care what people think of them at this point