I need to listen to those earlier records again. I heard about them during Hello sadness, really started following them during No Blues, and loved Sick Scenes
Oh shit, is it time for another ranking? Romance is Boring All Hell Hello Sadness No Blues Sick Scenes Hold On Youngster = We Are Beautiful…
Oh boy I’m #2! No Blues All Hell Romance is Boring Sick Scenes Hello Sadness WABWAD Hold on Now Youngster
All Hell Romance Is Boring Hello Sadness No Blues Sick Scenes WABWAD Hold On Now Youngster I think #2-#5 are pretty interchangeable, but All Hell and Romance is Boring are unbelievably good, and whilst I love a lot of songs off of the first two records, I don't think Gareth sounds anywhere as good as on the later records, and I don't think I've ever vibed as much with the twee indie chaos (although it's super fun) as the self deprecating, politically forward, wrestling and football referencing emo on the latter.
^and that is unbiased because I heard them all for the first time this year. No Blues might be 2 actually that one is Melodic bliss
Man I was so into No Blues when it came out in 2013 but have barely revisited since. Should fix that.
Absolutely fucking ridiculous show oh my god. Live debut of Hung Empty and 24 songs with the crowd picking the first encore.
I'm going to night 2 of the London Valentines shows tonight. Night 1 got All Hell in full for the first and only time so I'm completely gutted to miss that, but still really excited - hoping they pull out some deep cuts to make up for us missing out on All Hell lol.
Also: it's only been six weeks since 2024 ended but if I did a rerank of my aoty list this would be #3 (at lowest) and still climbing I think
Only 5 North American dates this year is brutal :( I'm going to forever regret not seeing them when they came to Pittsburgh like 10 years ago