I threw on TBB for the first time in a long time and there are some killer songs, but wow does it sound like a low quality leak.
Yeah, everything but the chorus rules on this song. The chorus is really really bad though. Thus making it pretty un-listenable.
i was listening back to TBB and i kind of love how bad the production is. makes listening to it remind me of just hanging out at the skatepark, listening to music on someone's shitty radio, a kind of cool-eternal summer feeling
Wow I like about two songs off this. And even then those are stretches. Just feels like once you've heard the first minute of each song that's it, you've heard the entire thing. So much repetition going around. Most songs just have such boring guitar work too with a few exceptions... Feels like it's for the purpose of making the songs feel "epic" or large sounding artificially without actually earning it. What a horrendously disappointing album. Won't be returning to this much at all
I will always love letlive. but this is definitely their big misstep. I'm calling a return to form album in 2-3 years (hopefully). I don't think it's terrible (I enjoy the singles) but this is just not what they're good at. They may be good at other things besides their core sound but this is not it. It sounds like they were really unsure they wanted to even make this record, then they reacted to the negative mixing/mastering comments on TBB to make this ultra polished, and on top of all of that they had a different drummer and guitarist in the mix than before. The fact that the record turned out this way isn't surprising, but it is a little disappointing. Next time I really hope they find a focus that matches with their skills as a band.
I've learned to not judge albums after a single listen so I'll let myself get used to this before I say anything.
anyways this record is a real brick. what made tbb and fake history pop for me was they had a really good formula for blending post-hardcore and poppier elements in a very poignant way. there was a really clear drive in jason's lyrics and delivery that was exciting. there isn't anything remotely like that here. string elements like @MFA said that are entirely artificial and don't actually have the intended effect. straight garbage like "who you are not" with way too cheesy choruses. in a way it made me think a lot about that new BMTH album, except this was executed a lot worse. it bums me out because i think they were really onto something with TBB, production aside they found ways to add interesting harmonies into the frenetic parts, and this is just so bad. bands in the genre like thursday and thrice managed to simultaneously complicate and normalize their songs in interesting ways that gave them longevity in their careers without there ever seeming like there was ever a calculated play to accessibility. but whatever, it's just an album. hopefully they turn stuff around on the next one but i think i'm gonna take a break until them
i remember hating Brand New's Daisy for forever before it finally clicked for me. i think jumping to definitive conclusions about an album the day of release/leak is just stupid. first impressions are fine i guess.
Yikes.... and I preordered the vinyl. Usually people are a lot harder on records that I am so we will see.